New Covishield shipment donated by 'well-wisher', quantity unclear

Health Ministry states that the new shipment of Covishield vaccine, which has enabled Maldives to resume administration of the second vaccine shot, was donated by a generous well-wisher.

Maldives, which was forced to suspend mass Covishield vaccinations due to depletion of its stock last May, started appointment-based vaccinations for people waiting for their second Covishield shot this Sunday.

When questioned regarding how the government secured the vaccines, Health Ministry’s Commissioner for Quality Assurance, Thasleema Usman told Sun that that the government received a shipment of Covishield vaccine last Saturday, and that it was a donation from 'a well-wisher'.

Thasleema declined to disclose the identity of the well-wisher, or the exact quantity of doses received.

However, she provided assurance the government made the decision to resume mass vaccinations because they have received a sufficient quantity of doses.

Maldives launched its national COVID-19 vaccination campaign with Covishield back in February, but had to halt mass Covishield vaccinations in May after the vaccine producer, India, suspended its export following the deterioration of its domestic virus situation. It has left thousands unable to get fully vaccinated.

HPA has announced that appointments for the second Covishield shot will be issued based on the date the first shot was administered, and that those who received the first shot earlier will be prioritized.

Though HPA initially set the gap between Covishield two doses at maximum eight weeks, but later revised the gap to six months.