Health Emergency Operations Center HEOC says although the routine administration of the 2nd dose of the covishield is yet to begin, the 2nd dose of the covishield vaccine has been given in emergency cases.
HEOC said that such cases would include emergencies and/or travel that does not allow the person to return by the 8th week.
It said that in such cases special consideration is given on a case-by-case basis once all relevant documents are submitted.
This comes after Health Protection Agency HPA had stopped administering the first dose of the covishield vaccine in the Greater Male' Area for the general population on Monday. The vaccination program took a break in the capital city where HPA said that vaccinations would resume next Saturday and that the first dose would be given to specific categories of people.
Today, HEOC also clarified the confusion over the number of covishield doses received and administered in the country.
Previously announced statistics showed that the Maldives had received 200,000 covishield doses as well as another 12,000 doses of covishield vaccine from the COVAX which takes the total to 212,000 doses of vaccine.
But last night, HPA had said that 214,486 people have received the first dose of the covishield vaccine.
HEOC said that 212,000 vaccine is 21,200 vials of vaccine as authorities can take 10 doses or sometimes 11 doses of vaccine from a vial.
