Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem has revealed the Maldives is expected to receive 200,000 doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca by July 20.
Speaking at a press conference held on June 29, Health Minister Naseem noted the first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is purchased under the agreement signed with a Singaporean company, is expected to arrive in the Maldives next month. The minister noted this would be the first 200,000 doses of the 700,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to be purchased from AstraZeneca Singapore. He said the shipment is expected to arrive between July 12 and July 20.
Furthermore, the health minister said a non-disclosure agreement has been reached with a Russian company as part of efforts to procure the Russian COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, to the Maldives. He said a final agreement will soon be reached to purchase the vaccines to the Maldives. He also revealed efforts are ongoing to procure further vaccines from the US.
COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is the seventh brand of COVID-19 vaccine approved by MFDA to be used in the Maldives. Other vaccines authorised by MFDA are Covishield, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Sputnik V, Moderna and Janssen vaccines. However, the Maldives is currently only administering Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines.