Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced that the Maldives will begin administering a booster shot for the Pfizer vaccine for selected categories, starting this Sunday.

A statement issued by HPA noted that the Maldives Technical Advisory Group on Immunization has advised administering booster shots for high-risk groups as well as frontline workers.

It also noted that the decision comes after research into the latest studies, and highlighted that the booster shot will only be administered for the Pfizer vaccine. The statement also noted that the third booster shot will only be given to people with at least six months since their first shot.

Booster shots will be administered for:

- Senior citizens over 60 years of age

- People with weak immune systems

- People who have undergone an organ transplant

- People who use immunosuppressants

- People on long term use of steroids

- People who undergo regular dialysis

- People with injured organs due to diabetes

- People on bed rest either due to an illness or old age

In addition to this, people who are undergoing cancer treatment as well as people who had undergone cancer treatment an year ago along with people who are overweight in comparison to their height will also be given the booster shot. People going through oxygen therapy at home or advised to do so by a doctor, COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, as well as liver cirrhosis will also be given the booster shot.

HPA noted that all these eligible people will be able to receive the booster shot starting this Sunday, and had appealed all eligible people to make their vaccination bookings through book.hpa.gov.mv.

ADK Hospital and Hulhumalé Hospital will administer the vaccine between 9:00 till 2:00 while Villimalé Hospital will administer the vaccine from 10:00 till 12:00.