Vaccine centers overwhelmed as people rush to get vaccinated

Vaccine centers in greater Male’ region were overwhelmed on Sunday, as people who delayed getting the COVID-19 vaccine rushed to the centers before the administration of the first vaccine shot closes this week.

 Maldives launched its COVID-19 vaccine program on February 1. Health authorities announced that administration of the first vaccine shot in greater Male’ region will close on Monday, March 15, in order to begin administering the second shot.

Longer and longer queues have been forming at vaccine centers since the announcement last week.

ހުޅުމާލެ ވެކްސިން ސެންޓަރު ސަރަހައްދު @sunbrk pic.twitter.com/skZj9DxFDX

— Muzayyin Nazim (@tedmaldives) March 14, 2021

Vaccine centers in Male’ and suburban Hulhumale’ witnesses the longest queues yet this Sunday, with people having begun queuing since early morning, before the centers opened.

The queue at the Hulhumale’ vaccine center stretched to the Ghaazee School, and long queues are also being seen in centers in Male’.

An official from Health Protection Agency (HPA) noted that vaccination has been open for a month and a half, and that the people currently queueing at the centers had waited until the last moment to get vaccinated.

ހުޅުމާލެ ވެކްސިން ސެންޓަރު ސަރަހައްދު: ގިނަ މީހުންތައް ވަނީ މި ސަރަހައްދަށް އެއްވެފައި pic.twitter.com/UABi1IdOYM

— Muzayyin Nazim (@tedmaldives) March 14, 2021

The official said that after the end of Monday, the first vaccine shot will only be administered to select groups as previously planned.

They are:

• High-risk individuals such as the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions.
• People who tested positive and are currently isolated (during the period they are eligible for the vaccine)
• People in quarantine following contact with positive cases (during the period they are eligible for the vaccine)
• People in quarantine after arriving from overseas or after travelling from Male’
• People whose vaccination was delayed due to a medical condition or for other health reasons

COVID-19 vaccine is accessible free of charge for all Maldivian residents, local or foreign and irrespective of legal status. Total 198,206 people were inoculated under program by the end of Saturday; 111,695 from the greater Male’ region, and 86,511 from the atolls.