Maldives Marks The Arrival Of Much Awaited 100K Syringes & 1K Safety Boxes Through The COVAX Facility

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a global initiative co-led by Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and World Health Organization, and includes UNICEF, which leads on procurement and delivery, as well as getting countries ready to receive vaccines.

On 21^st February, UNICEF began shipping syringes and safety boxes for the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX facility. Accordingly, 100,000 syringes and 100 safety boxes for COVID-19 vaccinations were sent to the Maldives by air freight have arrived in the nation. These are 0.5ml syringes that are meant for use with the Oxford AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India that a presently being used in the country’s nationwide vaccination drive. The syringes are of the auto-disable type meaning that they cannot be used again after a single dose of vaccine has been administered. This reduces the risk of infection from blood-borne diseases as a result of syringe re-use.

Altogether, UNICEF anticipates to supply up to 1 billion syringes and 10 million safety boxes the countries within this year to ensure that they are ready for vaccination.

Whilst the Maldives commenced their vaccination drive on the first day of this month, over 85k people have received the first dose the vaccine as of yesterday. 

(Photos: UNICEF Maldives)