Maldives Receives A Much Needed Gift Of 100K Vaccine Doses From China
Earlier, the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, His Excellency Zhang Lizhong revealed that the Government of the People’s Republic of China had pledged 200k doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine to the Maldives. Out of the 200k doses, the first batch being 100k doses has been handed over today to the Government of Maldives at a symbolic ceremony held for it – received on behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, and the Minister of Health, His Excellency Ahmed Naseem.
The vaccines were brought to Maldives by the complements of Island Aviation Services Limited whereas a few Chinese companies operating in the Maldives for their very generous financial contributions towards covering some of the costs of the flights.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Shahid expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping, the Government and the people of China for their generosity on behalf of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the Government and the people of Maldives. He also thanked Island Aviation Services for arranging to bring the vaccines from China to the Maldives.
During his remarks, Ambassador Zhang Lizhong assured that China will continue to assist Maldives in the country’s vaccination efforts and the economic recovery. He also reiterated China’s commitment in making the vaccine a global public good.
The Sinopharm vaccine is developed by a Chinese state-owned company of the same name. It is an inactivated vaccine that works by using killed viral particles to expose the body's immune system to the virus without risking a serious disease response. According to Sinopharm, phase three trials of the vaccine showed that it was 79% effective whereas it has already been administered to nearly a million people in China under an emergency program. It has also been given the green light by Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) for emergency use on 14th March.
The second batch of the vaccines are due to arrive in the Maldives on 30th March. The speedy arrival of the vaccines will ensure that the ongoing country-wide vaccination program will continue without any interruptions.
(Photo: Foreign Ministry)