India Makes An Additional Donation Of 100k Doses Of Vaccine To The Maldives

Maldives began its vaccination drive against COVID-19 on 1^st February upon receiving a donation of 100k doses of the using Oxford AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India – extended to the Maldives as gift from the Government of India. Whilst over 70k people have been administered the first dose of the vaccine at present, yesterday, the Government of India has extended a generous donation of additional 100k doses of the same vaccine.

The donation was officially handed over by the Minister of External Affairs of India, His Excellency Dr. S. Jaishankar as part of his official visit to the Maldives. It was received on behalf of the Maldivian government by the Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Shahid and the Minister of Health His Excellency Ahmed Naseem.

Oxford AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD vaccine is an intra-muscular injection where two-doses per person must be administered in between a gap of 4 to 12 weeks. It shows an efficiency between 90% to 62% and has been approved for emergency use by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA).

The Government of Maldives have also purchases 700k more doses of the same vaccine which they anticipate will arrive to the country in March.