China to donate 300,000 doses of its vaccine to SL

Colombo (News 1st); The Chinese Government has decided to donate 300,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to Sri Lanka, following a request made by the island nation's government.

The vaccine will be donated, although the production capacity of the vaccine is limited, compared with the huge domestic and international demand, said the Embassy of China in Colombo. The vaccine doses are expected to be handed over to Sri Lanka in mid-February after the due procedures in both ends are completed. The vaccine is manufactured by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (Sinopharm), and the vaccine has already passed the phase three trials in several countries with an effective rate between 79% - 86% at preventing COVID-19 infection, 99.52% at neutralizing antibodies, and 100% at preventing severe and moderate disease. As an inactivated vaccine, it better ensures the safety of the vaccine and could be easily stored and transported at a regular fridge temperature, said the Embassy of China in Colombo.