There are challenges for SL to get vaccines - State Minister

• A  consignment of nearly 600,000 vials of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from  India is due to arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday

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.

• Vaccination could start from the following day