President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has instructed all government employees, including government agencies and subsidiaries, to inoculate against COVID-19 by completing both vaccine doses. In a directive issued by the President's Office, President Solih said immunisation is the best safeguard against COVID-19 for the whole community.
The directive refers to the circular released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on August 2, urging all government employees to get vaccinated and immunised against COVID-19. As such, President Solih instructed all government employees who have not received any doses of the vaccine to complete the first dose by August 15, and the second dose after the requisite duration. Employees who had been advised against vaccination by a medical doctor registered in the Maldives, due to pre-existing medical conditions, are also urged to become immunised as their health allows.
Furthermore, President Solih instructed state administrators and senior management to ensure that all employees receive both doses of the vaccine against COVID-19. His directive follows the beginning of a nationwide vaccination programme to inoculate 90% of the eligible Maldivian population by the end of August.
So far, more than 70% of the eligible population have received the COVID-19 vaccine, while 27% of the eligible population remain unvaccinated in the Maldives.