HPA: Vaccine receivers to be monitored individually

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated that it will be monitoring vaccine receivers for COVID-19 individually. 

HPA is currently conducting awareness campaigns for the virus and its vaccines and has been publishing FAQs on the topic, informing the public on the safety measures taken by the Maldives for the vaccine. 

Announcements by the HPA state that only vaccines permitted for use by the local Food and Drug Authority will be used. Assistance from the World Health Organization and the UNICEF was being received in a bid to widen the vaccine storage efforts, according to the HPA which added that it will be monitoring the temperature of vaccines stored as well. 

The agency assured that vaccinations are not mandatory and will help in curbing the spread of the virus. The higher the number of vaccinated individuals, the more the nation can return to normalcy, stated the agency. 

Vaccines also help in stopping the spread of the virus as well as provide protection for oneself against the virus. Each and every individual that receive the shots are to be monitored individually for side effects under international standards. HPA said that side effects were a likely outcome of the virus as the defense mechanisms of the body react against the virus. 

Likely effects from the jab include:

• Pain and swelling on the area where the jab is administered.
• Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Joint pain

HPA said that prolonged side effects such as these are to be reported to the agency via 1676 or to be consulted with a health professional. HPA added that workers were being trained to respond to these side effects and that the order of the administration of vaccines was also formed according to the international standards. 

The agency is also planning to disseminate information related to the vaccine for the public to inform of its importance.