Sri Lanka looking for sources other than India to buy COVID-19 vaccine
By Sanjay Maurya
- Sri Lanka received 500,000 doses of free covid-19 vaccines under India’s 1st Neighborhood Policy in January.
- Due to the delay in purchasing covid-19 vaccines from India, Sri Lanka is looking for alternative sources to purchase the AstraZeneca vaccine.
- Sri Lanka has recorded around 800 cases per day, bringing the total number of cases reported on the island to more than a lakh.
Sri Lanka looking sources other than India for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
In January, Sri Lanka received 500,000 doses of free vaccines under India’s First Neighborhood Policy, given primarily to frontline health workers and members of the military.
“Due to the delay in purchasing vaccines from the Serum Institute of India, Sri Lanka is looking for alternative sources to purchase the AstraZeneca vaccine, health officials said on May 1, that India must first take care of its own country before supplying to us,” said General Shavendra Silva, head of COVID prevention operations.
When the second stock was implemented, Sri Lanka only had 300,000 injections of Covishield from India. After the Pune-based Serum Institute announced it would give further referrals, Sri Lanka started administering the second dose of the COVID-19 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on 28th April.
Sri Lanka requested additional doses of the Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute. However, the vaccination program was impacted as the AstraZeneca vaccine maker, Serum Institute of India, stopped supplying the vaccine due to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in India.
The Pune-based vaccine specialty has partnered with Oxford University and AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine. Officials said the COVAX facility is a global initiative to ensure quick and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries regardless of income level. was hindered due to delays by the Serum Institute.
Approximately 925,242 people got their first dose of the vaccine between January 29 and April 30. Sri Lanka received 6 lakh doses of Sino pharm vaccines from China. The vaccine was administered to 2,865 Chinese staff working in the region, even though neither local health regulators nor the WHO had authorized its emergency use.
For the past few days, Sri Lanka has recorded around 800 cases or more per day, bringing the total number of cases reported on the island to more than a lakh and the number of deaths to 644 on 3th may morning.
Must Read:- Low investment business Ideas 2021