Indian vaccine delivery delay will NOT impact SL; Prof. Channa

Colombo (News 1st); India will likely delay deliveries of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine doses to the GAVI/WHO-backed COVAX facility for March and April, however, it would not have an impact on Sri Lanka vaccination drive, said Prof. Channa Jayasumana, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals.

India has put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine made by Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s biggest vaccine-maker, to meet domestic demand as infections rise. Prof. Channa Jayasumana speaking to News 1st said since Sri Lanka commenced its vaccination drive in January, the second dose of the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine will be administered in 12 weeks. Approximately 850,000 people were given the vaccine in Sri Lanka, and according to State Minister, the remaining 400,000 doses of the vaccine can be jabbed until the 31st of May. "Unofficially, Serum Institute of India (SII) had announced it would provide an additional 500,000 doses of the vaccine to Sri Lanka," said the State Minister.