Discussions on procuring AstraZeneca jab from other manufacturers: Army Commander

COLOMBO (News 1st): Principal Advisor to the President and the Chief of the Presidential Task Force on the Procurement of COVID Vaccine Lalith Weeratunga has held discussions on purchasing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured in other countries instead of India, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said. "As of now, India has not informed us that they cannot provide the vaccines. However, given the prevailing COVID-19 situation in India, there is a possibility that they might not be able to provide vaccines to foreign nations since they must take care of the domestic situation first," Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, the Head of the National Operations Centre on Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) told News 1st on Saturday (May 01). According to the Army Commander, the remaining AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccines could be administered to around 365,000 people; "There is a shortage to complete the vaccination of the second dose," he emphasized. "There are other countries that manufacture the same AstraZeneca Vaccine. Therefore, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga has already held discussions in this regard," General Shavendra Silva noted. The Army Commander was hopeful Sri Lanka could procure the vaccines on time. "Even in the event we do not receive the vaccines, we have other solutions to resolve the matter," he further pointed out.