Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has advised the public to get the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as the eighth week is up from the first dose.

The COVID-19 vaccination program was launched in the Maldives on 1 February 2021. The second dose of vaccinations has now begun for those who got the vaccine in the first week of the program. Maldives launched the vaccination program with the 100,000 Covishield vaccine donated by the Indian government.

HEOC said that the second dose of the Covishield vaccine has to be given between the eighth and the twelfth week from the first dose. However, the second dose is going to be administered as soon as possible after the eighth week.

Currently the first dose recipient in the Maldives are currently receiving the Sinopharm vaccine. HEOC said that the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine will begin before the end of the month.