Health Protection Agency (HPA) has opened registration to receive the COVID-19 AstraZeneca Vaccine in the Maldives. HPA announced it will begin administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to individuals living in the Greater Male' Region on July 31.
HPA said registration is now open for those who wish to receive the vaccine. As such, the agency said registration is open for those who are yet to receive the first dose of any vaccine, as well as those who received the Covishield vaccine as their first dose and have not received their second dose yet.
HPA had earlier stated AstraZeneca can be administered as the second dose for those who received Covishield as their first dose, as the two vaccines share the same formula. HPA stated vaccination appointments can be made through the designated link on its website. HPA said individuals whose appointments are fixed will receive an SMS, which must be shown when going for vaccination.
The agency also said individuals who receive an appointment will have to be present at least 15 minutes before the appointment time. Individuals who fail to show up on time will have their bookings cancelled and will have to book a new appointment for another date.
HPA said AstraZeneca will be administered in a total of six different vaccination centres in the Greater Male' Region. As such, vaccination will take place in Social Centre, Art Gallery, Islamic Centre, Villimale' Youth Centre, Dhamanaveshi, and Hulhumale' Hospital. Vaccination will be carried out from Saturday to Thursday between 0900hrs and 1700hrs at Hulhumale' Hospital, and from 0900hrs until 1600hrs at all other centres.
The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme began in the Maldives in February.
So far, more than 70% of the population have received the COVID-19 vaccine in the Maldives. The government aims to inoculate over 90% of the population by the end of August.