SL receives first batch of COVISHIELD vaccines, courtesy WHO, UNICEF

The first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccines, under COVAX Facility of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday morning.

The 264,000 jabs arrived yesterday and they were received at the Katunayake airport by Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID-19 Disease Control Minister Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle. The Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe and UNICEF Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Emma Brigham were also present.

 The consignment was transferred to the cold storage facility situated at the Import Cargo yard at the Airport. The State Minister said that the vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Pharmaceutical Factory in Mumbai, India, would be administered to those above the age of 60 from March 8.

Altogether 1.44 million doses will be delivered by the WHO.

 After the inoculation, a report would be submitted to the WHO. Following that report, the country would receive the second batch of COVISHIELD vaccines donated by the COVAX Facility, Dr. Fernandopulle said.