Maldivian President Mohammad Ibrahim Solih Monday inaugurated the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country. The president, his cabinet members, and the country’s chief justice were also inoculated on the first day.

“Just got the first shot of the Covishield vaccine. God willing, we will get everyone in the Maldives inoculated soon,” Solih tweeted.

The vaccination was conducted simultaneously in the capital Male, Addu city, and Kulhudhuffushi in Haa Dhaalu atoll. Earlier India had provided 100,000 doses of Covidshield to the Maldives as grant assistance.

Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Sanjay Sudhir also received the vaccine shot at a social center in Male.

After getting his jab, Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid tweeted, “...To the Gov't & people of #India who so generously provided the vaccine to #Maldives, a big thank you.”

Speaking at the ceremony in Male, President Solih said his government would provide vaccines to all those living in the country, irrespective of their nationality. The government has set a target of inoculating the entire population within six months.

Solih reassured the country, saying the vaccines would be provided free of cost. He also acknowledged all the difficulties and problems faced by the country during the pandemic.

In the South Asian region, the Maldives remained the worst affected country due to its over-reliance on tourism for the economy. The country reported 15,736 cases of COVID-19 infections with 1582 active cases presently.