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Over 20,000 register for COVID-19 vaccination: HPA

Nafaahath Ibrahim
28 January 2021, MVT 12:55
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration taken October 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
Nafaahath Ibrahim
28 January 2021, MVT 12:55

Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Wednesday revealed that over 20,000 individuals registered to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The agency has created an online portal for registration purposes, which was officially launched last week.

Local media reported via an HPA official that over 20,800 people have registered to receive the vaccine since the portal was launched.

Those who register are asked to provide personal details such as medical history and current accommodation. Based on the information provided, the agency will decide your placing on the list of those who are to receive the vaccine.

Once you are confirmed for vaccination, appointment details will be provided through the registration portal. Furthermore, after getting the vaccine, vaccination documents will be sent from the same portal.

HPA has said that the vaccine will first be administered to health professionals and social workers, followed by senior citizens.

However, children under 16 years of age and pregnant women will not be given the vaccine as of now, since test trials for these demographics are ongoing.

The agency said that it is not compulsory for citizens to register for the vaccine right now, but if a large portion of the population is vaccinated, it would aid in returning the country to it’s pre-Covid state.

In order to increase public awareness, the agency released an FAQ document disseminating important information on vaccination and side effects, as well as specifications on the ‘COVIDSHIELD’ vaccine which is to be rolled out in Maldives.

Although Maldives received the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine 'COVISHIELD', licensed by Oxford and AstraZeneca and manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, on January 20, a date is yet to be announced on when inoculation will commence. Authorities have only stated that preparations to begin vaccination are currently underway.

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