600,000 people will be vaccinated daily - Ministry of Health

Colombo (News 1st); 600,000 people will be vaccinated daily as per the government's vaccination drive, announced the Ministry of Health on Monday (08).

Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath the first batch of vaccines as per the COVAX program will reach Sri Lanka by the end of February. In addition, 18 million doses of the COVID vaccine for 09 million people will be imported to the country by the government, he added. The Ministry of Health said teachers will be considered as a priority group during the vaccination process. All citizens between the ages of 30 - 60 will receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the 01st of March at 4,000 centers island-wide, said State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control, (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle. More than 160,000 frontline health workers were jabbed with the Covishield vaccine since the 29th of January said the State Minister adding various other sectors are also requesting for the vaccine be given to them as well. Based on the vaccine availability, the frontline health workers in the private sector will also be given the vaccine as the next step in Sri Lanka's drive for vaccination. Sri Lanka is to receive the vaccine via the COVAX program by the first week of March and it would be given to the citizens above the age of 60 while the working masses between the age of 30 & 60 would also be given the vaccine. According to the State Minister, 300 people will be vaccinated daily from each vaccination center which will be set up across the country.