Sri Lanka to combine Astrazeneca with Pfizer vaccine

The government has sought advice of the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) on the possibility of using Pfizer-biotech as second shot for Sri Lankans who received Astrazeneca (Covishield) jabs as their first dose of vaccine against the Corona virus, Daily Mirror learns.

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana requested Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane to inform him of the position of the ACCD in this regard. Daily Mirror has seen a copy of the letter addressed to Dr. Gunawardane.

This option is considered because of the shortage of

Astrazeneca doses in the world, to be administered as second dose for Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka is in need of around 600,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccines.

A German study reports that combination of Astrazeneca and Biotech vaccines triggers remarkably stronger immune response rather than jabbing both doses with the same vaccine.

The State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) held talks with the Pfizer authorities yesterday and discussed how to work out logistical arrangements for the distribution of their vaccines. Sri Lanka will receive a dispatch of 300,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines in the middle of next month.(Kelum Bandara)