Health Minister, Ahmed Naseem has said that COVID-19 vaccinations will be starting in the Maldives tomorrow.

Minister Naseem has confirmed this information to One Online and said that further details will be delivered later today.

A 100,000-dose shipment of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine “Covishield” was donated and delivered to the Maldives by the Indian government no 20 January 2021.

This shipment of vaccines will be going to frontline health workers and high-risk elderly population along with those with chronic illnesses. While the vaccination is set to begin tomorrow, the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) authorized its use on Thursday.

It is authorized to be used on those over the age of 18 and is not permitted to be used by pregnant women.

Spokesperson of the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), Dr. Nazla Rafeeq has previously said that everyone has to receive two doses of the vaccine, the shipment delivered today can vaccinate 50,000 people.