800,000 COVID-19 Vaccines expected by next week: State Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st): A total of 800,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka this week or the next, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control said on Monday (Feb. 22). The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to provide 4 million doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka under its Covax facility. According to State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, 300,000 doses of the vaccines provided by the WHO could be expected by this week or the next. Of the 10 million doses to be procured from India's Serum Institute based on the agreement signed, 500,000 vaccines will also be delivered to Sri Lanka soon, Dr. Fernandopulle further added. News 1st inquired with India's Serum Institute on the matter, and it said the consignment of vaccines to be delivered to Sri Lanka was already packed. Meanwhile, India's Serum Institute on Monday (Feb. 22) urged foreign states to act with patience when attempting to obtain vaccines stating that priority will be given to India with regard to the provision of vaccines. According to State Minister Dr. Fernandopulle, the Serum Institute in India is not permitted to provide vaccines to other countries, without the prior approval of the Indian Government. However, the State Minister assured that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has intervened as required and there will be no change to the vaccine consignments to be procured by Sri Lanka.