Long-awaited AZ from Japan here on Saturday

…relief for 540,000 

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Prof Channa Jayasumana, told The Island that Sri Lanka would receive the long delayed shipment of 728,460 AstraZeneca doses on Saturday (31).

The AZ produced in Japan would be used to inoculate 540,000 who had received the AZ first jab a couple of months ago but couldn’t get the second due to disruption of the supply line.

Responding to another query, Prof. Jayasumana said that Japan promised to provide 1,470,000 AZ doses and the rest would be airlifted a few days after Saturday’s delivery. Of 540,000 awaiting AZ as their second doze, 526,000 were in Colombo and Gampaha districts and the rest would be used in the Kegalle district (SF)