The Government of Maldives & Serum Institute Of India Seals Deal On 300k Doses Of COVISHIELD Vaccine

During a press conference held last at the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), the spokesperson of HEOC, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq disclosed that the Government of Maldives is purchasing 300k doses of the COVISHEILD Vaccine from Serum Institute of India. Accordingly, the agreement for the transaction has already been signed.

The Maldives began its vaccination drive on 1^st February with Oxford AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India. With the new transaction, Maldives has procured 512,000 of the said vaccine – 200k received previously as a donation from the Government of India and 12,000 received from the COVAX facility. An agreement has also been made with Oxford AstraZeneca's for the purchase of 700k doses of the vaccine as well – which the country had yet to receive.

This is an intramuscular injection whereas two-doses must be administered in between a gap of 4 to 12 weeks. The COVISHIELD vaccine shows an efficiency between 90% to 62% and has been approved for emergency use by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA).

As of now, over 200,000 individuals in the Maldives have been administered the first dose under the nationwide vaccination drive.