500,000 to receive COVID-19 jab daily in future: State Ministry

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Health has planned to inoculate around 500,000 people per day once more doses of the vaccine are acquired, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, the Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control told News 1st on Friday (05). Preparations are underway to administer the jab at 4000 locations across the island, he added. According to Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, State Minister - Prof. Channa Jayasumana has made arrangements to bring down another 18 million COVID-19 vaccines, through the State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka. The vaccine order was placed following discussions with the Principal Adviser to the President, Lalith Weeratunga who heads the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and National Development, he further noted. Thereby, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva was hopeful that another 3 million COVID-19 vaccines could be brought down to the country within the next two months. Elaborating on the vaccination drive, Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Health Care said: "COVID-19 vaccination priority groups have already been identified; those aged above 60-years with complications and priority workforces will receive the jab; the vaccination drive in the country will be conducted in a transparent manner." As of Friday (Feb. 05) morning, 150,000 people have received the AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine from India, since the jab was rolled out on 29th January, for frontline healthcare workers, personnel of the Tri-Forces and Police combatting the pandemic, the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control said.