India awaits regulatory clearance from SL to supply COVID-19 vaccine

• Supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles will begin from today

By Kelum Bandara 

India awaits regulatory clearance from Sri Lanka for the supply of Indian manufactured COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka. 

According to the Indian High Commission, India will commence delivering the vaccines to its neighbouring countries today, but awaits clearance from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius. 

“In keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help humanity in the fight against COVID-19, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles will begin from today. 

As far as countries such as Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius are concerned, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearance,” the statement said further. 
Meanwhile, China had already approved the supply of vaccines manufactured by that country to Sri Lanka. 

Chinese vaccines - Sinopharm and Sinovac - have been approved by countries such as Indonesia, Turkey, the UAE and Serbia.   Moreover, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) also approved vaccines by China’s Sinopharm for emergency use.