Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) has announced a nationwide government vaccination programme will be launched on July 31. The government has stated the purpose of the programme is to fully vaccinate 90% of the Maldivian population by the end of August.
At a press conference, Spokesperson of the HEOC Dr Nazla Rafeeq said a shipment of Singapore's AstraZeneca vaccine has arrived in the Maldives, allowing the government to fully vaccinate the population. She said an additional shipment of vaccines will be arriving in the Maldives and that the upcoming programme will be the largest vaccination programme to be conducted by the government.
Vaccination will be provided at atoll hospitals and health centres, according to the HEOC. As such, vaccinations will be provided at the Social Centre, Islamic Centre, National Art Gallery, Dhamana Veshi, Villimale' Youth Centre, and Hulhumale' Hospital in the Greater Male' Region.
During the programme, vaccinations will be provided at the Hulhumale' Hospital from 0900hrs to 1700hrs while vaccinations at the other centres will be provided from 0900hrs to 1600hrs.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated individuals who received the first dose of Covishield are allowed to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as the second dose. HPA stated individuals who received the Sinopharm vaccine at Treetop Hospital and Senehiya Hospital will also receive their second dose. as part of the vaccination drive.