President urges all government employees to get vaccinated

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih urged on Tuesday for all government employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

President Solih said that the most important measure that can be taken for protection amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. He said that he therefore appeals to all government employees to complete their vaccine shots as soon as possible. 

President’s Office, in a statement on Tuesday evening, said that President Solih has appealed for government employees who have yet to receive their first shot to get their first shot by August 15, and then their second shot within the required period of time. 

He also appealed for government employees who have been advised by a medical doctor against getting vaccinated due to temporary circumstances to get vaccinated once it’s safe to get vaccinated. 

The appeal comes as the government works to fully vaccinate 90 percent of the eligible population in Maldives before the end of this August. 

POSITIVE PROGRESS TOWARDS A ‘NEW NORMAL’ 

President Solih, in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon, said that the measures implemented by the government to control the spread of COVID-19 have made positive progress towards achieving a ‘new normal’.  

Speaking at the meeting, President Solih stressed the importance of mass inoculation to curb the spread of COVID-19. He stressed the need to complete vaccination for the entire eligible population of Maldives, and strongly urged government institutions and subsidiaries to work towards the goal.  

Cabinet ministers deliberated on the government's efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 and overcome the challenges faced in rebuilding the Maldivian economy.  

They also discussed ways to further improve the national vaccination program. 

As of August 1, 323,568 individuals had received the first dose, and 271,552 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Maldives.