NMRA approves Sputnik V vaccine for SL

COLOMBO (News1st): The National Medicines Regulatory Authority approved Russia's Sputnik Five COVID-19 vaccine for local use today. This was following a request made by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation to provide the jab in the country. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine was the second COVID-19 jab to receive approval for emergency use in the country. Sri Lanka is currently administering doses of India's Covishield vaccine among the public. The Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology must be administered twice on an individual. On December 5 last year, Russia had begun vaccinating its population free of charge with the Sputnik V jab, citing that its efficacy stands at 91.6 percent. According to medical experts, Sputnik V vaccines that cost 10 dollars a dose, must be stored at a temperature between 2 and 8 degrees Celcius. Sri Lanka has taken steps to purchase the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine at 5.25 US dollars a dose. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine must also be stored at a temperature between 2 and 8 degrees Celcius. Meanwhile, health authorities say that Sri Lanka will receive 380,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines under the Covax facility of the World Health Organization.