27 January 2021 12:00 am
By Sheain Fernandopulle
While stating Sri Lanka would have to go through the challenges in getting the vaccine as the whole world is into vaccination, Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle said Government would vaccinate the people free of charge.
Addressing the media, she said as the Government provides other vaccines free of charge, the COVID vaccine would also be given in the same manner.
“A consignment of nearly 600,000 vials of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from India is due to arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday (28). Accordingly, all arrangements have been made to start vaccination from the following day,” she said.
The State Minister said there were also vaccination trials held in three locations in the country under the supervision of the Health Ministry in order to identify the mistakes that could occur in the vaccination process.
“There are about 300,000 front-line workers including doctors, nurses and security personnel who would be given the priority when the vaccination is kicked off,” she underlined.
“The second dose for these front-line workers would be given after three weeks of the first dose, she said.
“In the meantime, Sri Lanka is to get 20% of vaccines under the COVAX facility. Apart from this, the rest of the vaccines would be bought by the Government,” she added.
She said although there were challenges in getting the vaccine, they would take all necessary actions to bring the rest of the vaccines and continue vaccination according to the priority list.