SRI LANKA TO USE OXFORD - ASTRAZENECA COVID VACCINE

Colombo (News 1st); The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to import the Oxford- AstraZeneca anti Covid-19 vaccine, said State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle says.

Speaking further the State Minister said, inoculation will commence from mid- February and added that the inoculation would be done free of charge.

Sri Lanka currently possesses the necessary facilities for transportation and storage of the vaccine, she added.

State Minister Fernandopulle noted, another vaccine will be imported to Sri Lanka free of charge through the COVAX facility .

Speaking to News 1st the State Minister said, the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine is the most suitable vaccine for use in Sri Lanka as it can be stored at a cold temperature lesser than the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNtech, which must be stored at -70 degrees. The Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine can also be stored for 6 months.

According to the State Minister, 4,000 centres have already established to conduct the vaccination process, with those employed in the health sector to be given priority in the first round of vaccinations.