Health Protection Agency Explains Discontinuing the Inoculation of Covishield Vaccines

The rise of positive Covid cases have taken over our neighboring country India, resulting in shocking circumstances unfolding in a short period of time. Although India is one of the leading producers of Covid vaccines, this moment has proven testing to both the nation and the rest of the world whose hunger for vaccine intensifies with time.  

Highlighting the worsening scene in India, Health Protection Agency has announced that the widespread inoculation of Covishield vaccine will be discontinued until further notice. This decision was taken based on the difficulties faced by Maldives, similar to many other nations around the globe, given the current status of India.  

Although vaccination is halted, emergency cases and special cases of people who require vaccination due to their health conditions will be exempted from the implication.  

The government of Maldives has been actively involved in the sourcing of Covid vaccines since the beginning of vaccine authorizations in the world. Accordingly, an agreement made with research-based BioPharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in late December 2020 promised the purchase of 700,000 dozes of AstraZeneca vaccines to the Maldives, to be supplied in June. In addition, 300,000 dozes of Covishield vaccine were purchased from the Serum Institute of India out of which 100,000 dozes have already been supplied. HPA says that additional shipments are scheduled for upcoming months.  

As of date, over 297,000 people have received their first jab of covid vaccine under the nation-wide vaccination campaign by the name Covid Vaccination Drive rolled out on February 1, 2021. The second doze has been administered to nearly 37% of them. This adds up to 68% of the eligible population in the Maldives having received the first doze of covid vaccine and 25% having completed the set dosage of the vaccine. Maldives is currently administering jabs of Covishield and Sinopharm vaccines.  

The government assures the people of Maldives that efforts to secure additional batches of vaccines are of utmost priority right now. Moreover, work is in place to arrange a fresh shipment of Covishield vaccines within the next half months' time.