Sinopharm COVID-19 jab: Chinese nationals in SL to be prioritized

COLOMBO (News 1st): Chinese nationals residing in Sri Lanka will be prioritized when administering the Sinopharm COVID-19 jab, which will be provided to Sri Lanka as a donation from China, the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control said. Sri Lanka’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) last Saturday (Mar. 20) approved China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the island. "The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has made a request for the vaccine to be provided for Chinese nationals who are working in Sri Lanka; Chinese nationals will be prioritized when administering the Sinopharm jab," Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control told News 1st on Monday (Mar. 22). According to Dr. Fernandopulle, permission has so far been granted to accept the donation of Sinopharm COVID-19 jabs from China, but the number of recipients is yet to be determined. The COVID-19 Vaccination Drive in the country will continue with the procurement of more doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine and the government is also working on purchasing Russia's Sputnik-V vaccine, State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle further pointed out.