US$ 150 Mn loan from ADB for COVID vaccine project

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers gave the green light for the government to obtain a loan of US$ 150 million from the Asian Development Bank for implementing the Responsive Covid – 19 Vaccines for Recovery Project.

It is expected to obtain US$ 84 million from the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility and the remaining US$ 66 million from the Standard Local Allocation of the Ordinary Capital Resources Fund of the Asian Development Bank.

The total cost of the project is US$ 161.85 million and the Government of Sri Lanka will bear US Dollars 11.85 million thereof, said a statement by the Department of Government Information/

The loan is planned to be used for a number of related activities, including the cost of vaccination, installation of vaccine-related monitoring systems, providing refrigerated transport facilities, and strengthening clinical waste management.

The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka said 4.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines will reach Sri Lanka in July.

Accordingly, 02 million doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine will reach Sri Lanka next week while 200,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will reach Sri Lanka in batches in July 2021.

In addition, 50,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik vaccine will reach Sri Lanka on the 08th of July.

Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath speaking to News 1st said it has been recommended that there is NO issue in administering either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine as the second dose for those who had already received the first dose of the COVISHIELD vaccine.

Based on the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, the Director-General of Health Services will issue a clear set of guidelines on the matter, to the local health institutions in the coming days, Dr. Hemantha Herath noted.