"Vaxxed" but vexed

Counting down to another 101 days until the Maldives is to be 70 percent vaccinated (according to international resources' calculations of the vaccination rate against the population numbers), international travel is once again returning to the people’s yearly plans. However, proof of vaccination requires a certain level of credibility, and as there isn’t an international framework in place just yet, the Maldivian administration is at a critical juncture.

Vaccination has been a trying topic around the world given that a pandemic of this scale has not occurred in nearly a century, and the people seem to have taken the science of vaccines and their benefits for granted. It has been fertile ground for conspiracy theorists, misinformation, and rumours of massive corporations influencing entire nations. Misrepresentation is an easy task, and the global response in this health emergency hasn’t been safe from this.

However, in the Maldives the situation is not as dire. While the occasional slip up has taken place when certain groups of people with misdirected intentions avoid vaccinations, during this pandemic nationalistic support has almost been palpable. The numbers show that, with the intense work done by the government, and even major companies, to incentivise vaccination most of the population has embraced the need to be vaccinated, something that we can all be nigglingly proud of — due to those few of the irksome ilk who continue to distort facts for personal gain and infamy. So, within the year the Maldives could be looking at a 70% vaccination rate — maybe more if further vaccine drives are conducted, and the end of COVID-19 mortality may well be in sight.

Yet, as we take time to deservedly pat ourselves on the back other issues that have been poorly addressed are now rearing their head. Travelling abroad is an important aspect for a significant number of Maldivians and therefore that cannot be overlooked. Around the world vaccination is required for access to services, let alone the borders.

The vaccination card that was issued by the Health Protection Agency allows unquestioned access in a local scenario, but multiple people over the last month have been raising the concern that the card isn’t deemed valid when presented elsewhere outside the country.

One of the major issues with this was the lack of visible accreditation by the Maldivian authorities on the card itself. Not having written the name of the issuing country is, in retrospect, an obvious oversight, and as such social media had been flooded with complaints. To combat this, a website-based, QR code connected digital vaccine passport had also been prepared, yet even there the level of accreditation needed seems to be lacking.

A spokesperson for the government had outlined that the card was not initially intended for international use, so the oversight, baffling as it may be, can be excused to a certain extent. Some countries, such as Malaysia, seem to accept the card as proof of vaccination, which could be credited to the number of Maldivians within her borders, yet this isn’t standardising the procedure as much as it should be. 

Around the world, countries such as Canada and Australia are preparing vaccine cards that can be used internationally with the backing of the respective governments, and they have also noted that such a framework would take time to be implemented. With the launch of the Covid Safe portal, HPA has been taking steps in this direction, and a cursory glance at one’s Safe status takes as much legitimacy as possible on their vaccination and even latest test results. On top of that, the vaccination of under-18 year olds at schools is well on its way, and this would only keep adding on to the overall safety of this community.

It is safe to say that the Maldives is on the right track — just not quite there yet. There is much promise that, at least in South Asia, the Maldives would be one of the first countries to be fully vaccinated, and safe, for both visitors and also for those of the population who would be travelling during these trying times.

Vaccination is key for eradicating multiple, extremely fatal and infectious diseases from terrorising human civilisation, and for over a century this has been the unseen bastion that has protected generations of people.

While COVID-19 is new in terms of the fundamentals of the virus itself, infection control, pandemic procedures, and even vaccination, are not new concepts. For this reason, and more, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community, by doing the needful and staying safe.

We urge our readers to stay notified on the vaccination updates, get your second dose, and to stay safe, as a virus with a high infection rate can only subside if the nation comes together, metaphorically, in unity — while social distancing for good measure and taking other precautionary measures.

In the meantime the nation should also be vigilant of the administration and state agencies of, ‘in a rush to accomplish’ things, ignoring best practices like having an easily recognisable authenticating feature on the vaccine card instead of deploying more funds and resources to correct a fairly obvious 'mistake.'