MP for Medhu Henvairu Constituency and parliament majority party leader Ali Azim has expressed his regret in delaying the COVID vaccine as he battles the illness after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
In a video he uploaded on Twitter, MP Azim said that today is the fifth day since he contracted the fast-spreading illness and that he has had to battle high fever, cold-like symptoms as well as other COVID symptoms. MP Azim said that he was feeling better today.
He also expressed his regret in delaying getting the COVID-19 vaccine and urged all to their shot as soon as they can.
His call to get vaccinated coincides with the second to last day on which the authorities would be administering the first dose of the covishield vaccine in the Greater Male' Area after it had announced that officials would be stopping the first dose next Monday.
But Health Protection Agency HPA had revealed that certain groups would still be given the first dose of the covishield vaccine beyond Monday and that this includes;
- Individuals who are considered high-risk to the pandemic
- Individuals who are currently under isolation having tested positive for COVID (On the date that they eligible for vaccine)
- Individuals who are currently under quarantine having been identified as a contact of a COVID patient (On the date that they are eligible for vaccination)
- Individuals under quarantine after traveling abroad or traveling from Male' Area
- Individuals who have had to delay vaccination because of a certain illness
HPA has said the 2nd dose of the covishield vaccine can only be administered 8 to 12 weeks after the administration of the first dose. HPA began its massive inoculation drive on the 1st of February and is likely to begin administering the second dose next month.
