Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has decided not to procure the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to the Maldives.
Speaking at a press conference, Spokesperson of HEOC Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said the government decided not to procure Sputnik V vaccines, as the Maldives has received enough vaccines to inoculate the entire population. She noted no payments have been made to procure the Sputnik V vaccine to the Maldives.
The government has purchased 700,000 doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca from Singapore. Furthermore, the Maldives has also received over 128,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine donated by the US government, through the COVAX Facility.
HEOC is currently undertaking preparations to begin administering the Pfizer vaccine to children aged between 12 and 17. Children would be receiving their vaccines through their respective schools.
As of August 12, over 342,000 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while over 294,000 people have received both doses. The government has set the target of vaccinating 90% of the population by the end of this month.