Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVISHIELD vaccine consignment which arrived from India today (January 28) has been distributed to six hospitals in Western Province.
A special flight chartered by Air India (AI 281) touched down at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at around 11.45 am this morning, with 500,000 vials of doses packed in tailor-made boxes for the purpose.
The consignment was ceremonially handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr Gopal Baglay.
Reportedly, one of the vaccine samples has been taken to the Medical Research Institute in Borella.
The vaccines were first taken to the Central Vaccine Store in Colombo before being distributed to Colombo National Hospital, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Homagama Base Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH).
Accordingly, Sri Lanka will begin its inoculation drive against COVID-19 tomorrow at these designated hospitals.
Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said, the vials of doses will be transported to regional vaccine storage facilities tomorrow.
“We can start the inoculation programme at every district by Saturday,” he added.
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana meanwhile said the health workers who are on the front line of the pandemic in the country will receive the jab first.
By the end of tomorrow, army personnel will be administered the vaccine, he added.
“Our next priority will be the citizens above the age of 60, who suffer from non-communicable diseases.”
Among all the vaccines developed in the world, Oxford-AstraZeneca is the safest with comparatively lesser side effects, he noted.
“We have held many rounds of discussions regarding the procurement of Russian-developed vaccine Sputnik-V,” the State Minister said adding that a final agreement is expected to be reached by Monday.
A discussion was held between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay this afternoon. The President has requested the Indian High Commissioner to facilitate the government in procuring the vaccine from the Serum Institute in India, required for the rest of the country’s citizens, he said further.
“Currently, we are financially sound, and we have the monetary allocations to purchase the vaccine for the rest of the population,” he went on to say.
State Minister Jayasumana meanwhile met with Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka Mr Qi Zhenhong this afternoon. During the meeting, documents related to the donation of Sinopharm vaccine developed by China have been exchanged.
