Senior Consultant Physician at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, became the first healthcare official to receive the COVISHIELD vaccine in Sri Lanka, State Minister Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said.

He was inoculated during a special programme held at the IDH while a senior nurse at the hospital became the second health official to receive the vaccine.

State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said it was expected to vaccinate 2,000 within today.

"An individual will be administered with two doses of the vaccine and the second one will be given after two weeks of the first dose," she said.

“The vaccination drive was initially scheduled to start in mid-February or early March. However, we are able to launch it in January itself due to cordial relationships between India and Sri Lanka,” she added.

She expressed these views at the special programme held to kick off the vaccination drive at the IDH.

India donated 500,000 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines and the first consignment arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday (28).

Accordingly, the vaccination programme commenced at the Colombo National Hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila, Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama, Homagama Base Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital in Mulleriyawa and the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Angoda. (Sheain Fernandopulle)