Health Protection Agency (HPA) has opened registration for individuals who wish to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Maldives received 5,850 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on March 25 from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access facility (COVAX). COVAX is a partnership co-led by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi - The Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO) alongside key delivery partner United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
HPA stated the Pfizer vaccine will be mostly available in the Greater Male' Region, since it needs to be stored at minus 70 Degrees Celsius. Only individuals identified as high-risk are allowed to receive the Pfizer vaccine in the Maldives. HPA also allows patients aged 16 to 17 to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
HPA stated individuals who fit the requirements to receive the Pfizer vaccine include patients who received organ transplants, patients who receive dialysis, patients receiving cancer treatment or radiotherapy, patients receiving Immuno-suppressants, and patients who take over 10 milligrams of steroids a month. HPA will be giving out the Pfizer vaccine for registered applicants in the Greater Male' Region, and will be prioritising the elderly.
In addition to the Pfizer vaccine, Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has also approved the use of Covishield produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Sinopharm vaccine, which was donated by the Government of China. Over 235,000 Maldivians have received the first dose of the vaccine, which is 47% of the population. HPA began the rollout the second dose on April 3.