8 June 2021 12:34 am
The government plans to commence co-production of China’s Sinovac vaccine in the country from next month, expecting 13 million jabs to be ready by September.
“I think at this time of the pandemic, the local manufacture of Sinovac vaccines is expected to commence in July 2021, with an initial 13 million vaccines will be a great help,” Treasury Secretary Sajith Attygalle told Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2021, yesterday.
The forum was organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Board of Investment and Colombo Stock Exchange.
The World Health Organisation last week approved the vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech for emergency use listing. The vaccine is currently under the consideration of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) for the approval.
The preliminary preparations on the process have been underway at a plant in Kundasale (Kandy) for the manufacturing of the vaccine.
According to Attygalle, the country commenced manufacturing of 40 medicines locally, retaining a considerable amount of foreign exchange outflows. Sri Lanka imports US $ 400-500 million worth of medicines per annum.