A total of 8,301 persons were vaccinated nationwide on Thursday.

According to the latest Covid-19 vaccination updates publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 2,740 persons received their first Covid-19 vaccination doses, whereas 5,561 individuals were administered their second doses on Thursday.

Of the over 2,000 first doses administered on Thursday, 231 were in the Greater Malé Region and 2,509 were across outlying atolls.

277,522 individuals have received first doses nationwide so far and a total of 34,531 persons have received their second Covid-19 vaccination jabs.

1,660 atoll residents received their second shots across 240 vaccination centers in outlying atolls and 3,901 Malé residents were administered their second doses from four mobile teams across 11 vaccination centers in the capital.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1 with the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccinations produced by India’s Serum Institute. After temporarily discontinuing the first round of vaccinations on March 15, the public health authorities resumed administering the first doses of vaccination on March 22. HPA has since begun administering the second Covid-19 vaccination doses on April 3.

The second shots for the Sinopharm vaccinations will be given after three to four weeks following the first dose. HPA commenced the second round of vaccinations with the Sinopharm vaccine produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products of China, for everyone above 18 years of age and below 60, who were unable to get their shots in the first round.

Vaccination centers are to be closed across the nation on Fridays. The public health authority observed a high turnout for vaccinations on the second day of Ramadan, after which changes were brought to operational hours at vaccination centers.

5,500 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine allocated to the Maldives through the COVAX facility is also being administered to special groups, such as children aged 16 and 17, along with adults over 60 on long term medication for chronic illnesses. Adults between 18 and 60 who have undergone an organ transplant, require regular dialysis, have cancer and are on chemotherapy or radiotherapy, along with patients who require immunosuppressant drugs and have been on long term steroid medication will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. HPA has urged those who registered for the vaccine to turn up for their scheduled appointments as there is a limited stock of the Pfizer vaccines.

As the Pfizer vaccine vials must be used within six hours once opened, HPA has stressed that if appointments are missed, the vial has to be discarded resulting in wasted vaccine doses and in turn reducing the number of eligible people who can receive the Pfizer vaccine.

On Thursday, the public health authority publicized guidelines for travelling within residential islands without the need for quarantine,after receiving second Covid-19 vaccination doses.

Further, HPA revealed that travelers to Maldives including tourists do not require a negative PCR test result and no quarantine is required if two weeks have passed after their second vaccination dose.

However, those who work in health facilities, daycare centers, schools and residential care services will be required to present negative PCR test results on arrival even though two weeks have passed since completing vaccination.

HPA went on to reveal that only those who completed two weeks after completing their second vaccination dose will be allowed to travel without quarantine.