The Second Batch Of Vaccines Donated By The Government Of China Has Arrived Home As Scheduled!

The Government of the People’s Republic of China had pledged 200k doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine to the Maldives. Out of these, 100k doses of the vaccine was handed over to the Government of Maldives on 25^th March.

The remaining 100k doses along with other medical equipment donated by China – arrived in the Maldives last night via a flight of the national carrier, Maldivian Aero. Some Chinese companies operating in the Maldives had granted financial assistance to cover some of the costs of the flight.

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 14^th March.

Currently, Maldives is using the Sinopharm vaccine in its nationwide vaccination drive.