The government will be providing the Covid-19 vaccines to the general public free-of-charge, says State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid-19 Disease Control Sudarshani Fernandopulle.
Addressing a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau, the State Minister said Sri Lanka expects to kick off inoculation drive against novel coronavirus as soon as the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVISHIELD vaccine consignment containing nearly 600,000 vials of doses arrives from India.
Nearly 300,000 health workers who are on the front line of Covid-19 pandemic in the country and officers of tri-forces who work closely with them will be first administered the vaccine. The second jab will be given to them following a three-week interval from the first, she explained.
Speaking further, she said nearly 20% of the required vaccines are to be received through the COVAX initiative – the United Nations-backed global effort aimed at lower-income nations to obtain the jabs.
The government will purchase the remaining amount of vaccines, however, the inoculation drive among the general public will be carried out free of charge, she said in response to a question raised by a journalist.
The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has been tasked with overseeing the vaccine import procedure, she added.
