Special Committee appointed to bring down Covid vaccine

COLOMBO (News 1st): A number of countries including Maldives and Singapore have already taken steps to purchase COVID-19 vaccines and provide it to the general public free of charge. State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle today appointed a special committee to look into bringing down a suitable vaccine to Sri Lanka. 4 vaccines will be considered initially. The state minister has advised the specialist committee to examine the vaccines produced by Oxford, Pfaizer, Sputnik V, and sinovac and compile a report. The American Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine bear a price tag of 20USD. The vaccine must be stored at a temperature of -70C. Sputnik V, was produced by a Russian company and is only used in Russia and the vaccine costs 10 USD. Coronavac - was produced by a Chinese Company Sinovac and is in its 3rd phase of Clinical trials the vaccine is valued at between 14 and 30 USD. The vaccine produced by the Oxford University in the United Kingdom and AstraZeneca institute can be stored in an average refrigerator and the vaccine is valued at 4 USD. Speaking to the media, Acting Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Specialist Dr. Hemantha Herath said, the government is taking "preliminary steps to bring down these vaccines to the country" through the intervention of the World Health Organization. He further said, "basic infrastructure facilities for the distribution of this vaccine" are being prepared and the government will "take steps to vaccinate certain groups in the country." initially. Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said, a special committee consisting of leading professionals has been appointed to look into the logistics of the vaccine program. The committee is tasked with "making the final decision with regard to the program" and compile a report for the government to act upon. In reply, Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa said, "The current government has failed to get a good quality vaccine for the general public of this country" and as a result, the people have been deprived of the virus and thus, "a new level of poverty has been created by COVID."