Maldives Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (MTAGI) has decided to administer the Pfizer vaccine as the second dose to women who become pregnant after receiving the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
MTAGI has held discussions on completing the inoculation of women who became pregnant after receiving their first dose of the Covishield vaccine. Several people faced an extended delay in receiving the second dose of the Covishield vaccine due to stocks of Covishield running out amid the surge of cases in India.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Nazla Musthafa said the Maldives will be administering the Pfizer vaccine as the second dose to women who became pregnant after the first dose. Noting the Maldives has currently run out of stock for the Pfizer vaccine, Dr. Nazla said inoculation of pregnant women will begin as soon as new stocks of the vaccine arrive in the Maldives.
Maldives had received 5,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, through the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The vaccine was administered to pregnant women and individuals whose immune systems are weak due to long-term illnesses or major surgeries.