President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the government aims to provide free Covid-19 vaccines to every Maldivian citizen without any discrimination.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is currently on a visit to Gan in Laamu Atoll where he met with members of the local community and delivered remarks outlining the Government’s development priorities for the atoll.

He also inaugurated several recently completed projects in the island, including the CT scan service at Laamu Gan Regional Hospital, Laamu Gan Zone Stadium and the Laamu Gan Central Power Plant. The President stated that these projects are a demonstration of this Government’s commitment to decentralizing basic services.

During his speech, he noted that several countries are now working to procure the different vaccines that are now in development to fight against COVID-19.

President Solih stated that the Government is working on doing the same and that it aims to provide free Covid-19 vaccines to every Maldivian citizen without any discrimination.

Since Maldives is part of th COVAX Facility, the country will receive free vaccine doses enough to vaccinate 20% of the population.

National Bureau of Statistics reveals that the current population of Maldives stands at 557,426. Hence, vaccination for 111,485 people will be received for free.

The COVAX Facility is a Gavi-coordinated pooled procurement mechanism for new COVID-19 vaccines, through which COVAX will ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for each participating economy, using an allocation framework currently being formulated by WHO.

Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) Spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq had previously stated that vaccine doses will start arriving in the country in the first quarter of the coming year, which was later reitered by the President as well.