Sinopharm COVID-19 jabs from China to SL today (31)

COLOMBO (News 1st): A consignment of 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine manufactured in China that was handed over to Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China on Tuesday (Mar. 31), will arrive in Sri Lanka today (Mar. 31). A decision has been reached to administer the Sinopharm jab to Chinese nationals residing in Sri Lanka, at first. 4500 Chinese nationals who are in Sri Lanka for employment purposes will be administered the Sinopharm vaccine, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control told News 1st. However, this is against a backdrop where the National Medicines Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka (NMRA) is YET to approve the vaccine for emergency use in the country. The approval has not been granted yet, given the lack of information with regard to the Sinopharm COVID-19 jab. Once the NMRA approves the Sinopharm jab for use in the country, it will be provided to the people, State Minister Dr. Fernandopulle noted. According to the State Minister, the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to the respective recipients starting from the 19th of April.