Maldives commences registration for Pfizer vaccine

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced that registration is now open for vaccinations for the Pfizer vaccine. 

HPA, in an announcement today, said that registration to receive the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, received by the Maldives under the COVAX facility, was open for individuals with special conditions. 

They include people with weaker immune systems and minors of the ages 16-17 with a condition mentioned below. 

• Individuals who have carried out an organ transplant
• Dialysis patients
• Cancer patients receiving Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy
• Immunosupprent or individuals on medications that suppress their immune systems
• Individuals requiring steroids for chronic illnesses
• Diabetes patients
• Thalassemia major and Sickle Anemia patients
• Down syndrome patients
• Patients with diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, Bronchiectasis
• Congenital heart disease patients (who have not carried out surgery)

HPA said that people of eligible ages and with such health complications can receive the Pfizer vaccine by registering through a link. 

The vaccine which requires extremely cold temperatures to store will be administered primarily in the Male' region due to the reason, said HPA before adding that for now, vaccinations would start in the capital alone. 

HPA also said that elderly people would be prioritized and that vaccinations would be carried out based to allow receivers to get two doses from the vaccine stockpile of the Maldives. 

The COVAX facility has donated 5,850 doses of the vaccine to the Maldives.