Maldives' Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has said that the country will begin a COVID-19 vaccination program in early 2021, local media reported here Friday.

HEOC Spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said 20 percent of the country's population will receive free vaccinations as part of the COVAX program. Discussions will be held with other countries to obtain vaccines for the remainder of the population.

"We can estimate that vaccines could be administered within the first quarter of 2021," Rafeeq said.

According to Rafeeq, 17 percent of the COVAX allocation will be prioritized for vaccinating frontline workers, people over the age of 50, and other high-risk individuals.

The Maldives government is currently working to finalize logistics to transport the vaccine to remote islands and regions in the country.

The country currently has 13,308 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 47 deaths.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

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