Japan donates 112,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Maldives via the COVAX facility.
These vaccines were donated under Japan’s "Last One Mile Support" program. In a ceremony held in the Foreign Ministry to handover the vaccines, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem accepted the vaccines.
Minister Naseem thanked the Japanese government in the role they are playing in Maldives’ fight against the coronavirus. Previously Japan has donated ambulances and PPE as well.
In this ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Maldives Keiko Yanai had said that COVID-19 had taught us that countries cannot overcome natural disasters such as these on their own. She also said that despite each countries best efforts, they face obstacles as well.
Minister Naseem said that the vaccines Japan donated will help Maldives achieve its goal of inoculating its entire eligible population.
Japan announced its goal to donate 30 million vaccines to various countries in July. The vaccines Maldives received was under this aid. These vaccines were manufactured in Japan.
This was the fourth shipment of vaccines Maldives has received from the COVAX facility. United States of America (USA) had donated 128,700 doses of Pfizer vaccine in early August. These vaccines were currently being used to vaccinate children between the ages of 12 and 17.