Ministry of Health hopes to purchase 18 million COVID jabs

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Health hopes to purchase 18 million COVID-19 Vaccines, a top health official said. "Adequate funds were already secured to purchase 10 million vaccines. There will not be any issues in securing funds to purchase the remaining 8 million doses," Dr. Hemantha Herath, the Deputy Director-General of Health Services said on Saturday (Mar. 06). Dr. Hemantha Herath was hopeful that of the total amount of vaccines ordered so far, close to one million vaccines will arrive in the country in the near future. However, he pointed out that a definite date on the arrival of vaccines cannot be confirmed as of yet; a majority of the vaccines could be expected within this month. Furthermore, 264,000 COVID-19 Vaccines provided through the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organisation will be received by Sri Lanka on Sunday (Mar. 07). Dr. Herath noted that all COVID-19 vaccines will be provided by the Serum Institute of India. "As of 4th March, a total of 650,991 people in the country were vaccinated against COVID-19," Dr. Hemantha Herath, the Deputy-Director General of Health Services added. The Vaccination drive is currently being conducted in the Western province targeting the Colombo Urban Council limits, Colombo district, Gampaha district, and selected locations of the Kalutara district.