Vaccination to begin after receiving India's jab - Sudarshani

COLOMBO (News1st): Health authorities say that steps will be taken to commence a vaccination drive in the country after importing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from India on Wednesday. State Minister for COVID-19 Disease Control Sudarshani Fernandopulle said that the process in this regard will begin next week. The vaccine would be first offered to frontline workers battling the pandemic including healthcare workers. The health ministry has said that steps have been taken to swiftly distribute the vaccine among the country's population. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India has received regulatory approval from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine manufacturers have also sought approval from the NMRA. The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation has sought approval to import the Russian vaccines to Sri Lanka. On the 8th of this month, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation had submitted documents to the NMRA seeking regulatory clearance to bring down the Sputnik V vaccines. According to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority has sought more clarifications on the Russian vaccine. Accordingly, the Russian vaccine manufacturer, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority are set to take part in an online discussion tomorrow. Meanwhile, state minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana has said that talks are being held with China to import the Sinopharm vaccine. He said that he expects the vaccines to be offered as a grant to Sri Lanka. As discussions of Russia's Sputnik V vaccines are due to end soon, the state minister said that discussions will be held on the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines as well.