Present Astrazeneca doses not for members of the public

19 May 2021 06:10 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Astrazeneca vaccines which are presently being administered in Colombo are only for the front line workers and front line service providers and not for members of the public who had received the first doses, Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council, Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni told Daily Mirror yesterday.

With a shortage of doses in hand for the second round, he said the government was trying its best to purchase the remaining 600,000 doses which was required for the second round from third parties and was awaiting final confirmation.

Wijemuni said out of the 600,000 doses, 100,000 doses of Astrazeneca was needed for the citizens in Colombo who had received the first jabs and they were awaiting confirmation from the central government.

However, with the stocks presently available, it is only for the health workers and front line service providers.

The current stock of Astrazeneca has also begun to be administered on Parliamentarians and staff members of some Ministers who received the first jabs months ago, the Daily Mirror learns. Rumours were also rife on social media that some with political connections had also been able to acquire the jabs, contradicting the claims that the doses were available strictly for the frontline workers and front-line service providers only.

The rest of the population will have to await the arrival of more consignments which is yet to be finalised. Sri Lanka has presently set a time frame of between 12 to 16 weeks between the first and second doses.

So far, over 3,000 people have been administered the second doses of Astrazeneca, the Daily Mirror learns.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wijemuni said that out of the 450,000 citizens who were eligible to receive the vaccines in Colombo presently, 150,000 had been vaccinated with the first doses of Astrazeneca and Sinopharm, which was one-third of the Colombo population being vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

He said the results of the vaccination were being seen as the death rate and infection rate among those vaccinated in Colombo was low compared to the cases reported during the first wave of the pandemic.

He said the CMC aimed to vaccinate the full 450,000 population by July with the different vaccine types which were expected to come in, in the coming weeks.

The Daily Mirror learns that while the stock of Sinopharm vaccines is also nearing completion, more Sinopharm vaccines were expected to arrive in Sri Lanka soon which would continue the country’s vaccination programme. (Jamila Husain)

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Comments - 11

Sokrates Wednesday, 19 May 2021 08:30 AM

Hail Gota, our Great Dictator.

A R Wednesday, 19 May 2021 08:53 AM

Reveal the person who ordered to give more than 600,000 first doses without keeping the balance for the second dose.

M. E. Batatota Wednesday, 19 May 2021 09:13 AM

I read on the web that for Astrazeneca the qualifying period between the two doses is between 84 to 92 days. At the current situation people that got the jab in middle March are overdue theirs immunization, also the WHO advise not mix vaccine. So why our government waited so long to request more Astrazeneca vials? Couldn't do their math's calculation?

Nadi Karunaratne Wednesday, 19 May 2021 10:47 AM

They are also for politicians, other rich and well connected people plus their domestic servants.

Auditor Wednesday, 19 May 2021 12:34 PM

There is reliable news circulating among public that persons known to authorities got the 2nd dose secreatly at Sugathadasa stadium center and at some govt hospitals nearby districts other than Colombo. Can this MC Doctor check those lists first and issue these type of statements.

Chandima Wednesday, 19 May 2021 12:48 PM

Right now the best thing these officials can do is to abstain from issuing statements to media. From the highest position to the bottom we hear lies, deceptive and contradictory statements everyday.

Roshanaly Wednesday, 19 May 2021 12:57 PM

Allow the Private sector to import these vaccines and control the prices.

Asanka Wednesday, 19 May 2021 01:07 PM

OK, and you want us to believe this? Btw, when did parliamentarians and their families and the so called friends of family third class jonnies become front line service providers? :)

dickie bird Wednesday, 19 May 2021 07:43 PM

Amelica is to release the hoarded Astra Zeneca....... Rouge Britain still holding onto it instead of providing it to the needs of its Commonwealth members. Oh ! suckers of the commonwealth.

Sambo Wednesday, 19 May 2021 08:50 PM

Yes! give it to the politicians, their close relations,close business associates and henchman and let the public die. Shame on you even to think of such an act.

Ranil Thursday, 20 May 2021 06:38 AM

Very nice, fist jab without 2nd jab , then why did u recommend 1 st jab to the people? Whiteout any order confirmation. Take the responsibility dr. People are waiting for the 2 nd.

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Present Astrazeneca doses not for members of the public

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