A total of 20,710 Sri Lankans have been administered with the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine as of this evening.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, a total of 17, 541 Sri Lankans were vaccinated today alone.

Apart from Lankans, a total of 5,300 Chinese nationals have also be administered with the Sinopharm jab.

Administering the Sinopharm vaccine to Sri Lankans commenced on May 08 following the approval granted by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) on the same day for the emergency use of China’s Sinopharm vaccine as shield for COVID virus in Sri Lanka.

The World Health Organization (WHO), on May 07 approved Sinopharm vaccine under the emergency use license.

According to the Health authorities, Sri Lanka has received 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm jab and one individual will be vaccinated with two doses of the jab within a gap of three weeks.

Moreover, the rollout of the Sinopharm vaccine commenced in Sri Lanka while the administration of the second dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVISHIELD is ongoing.

Accordingly, a total of 211, 518 individuals have been vaccinated with the second dose of the COVISHIELD vaccine while a total of 925,242 individuals were administered with the first dose.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca jab commenced in Sri Lanka on January 29, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Sputnik-V COVID-19 jab manufactured in Russia is also being currently inoculated to Sri Lankans.

Accordingly, a total of 5,878 individuals have been so far vaccinated with the first dose of the Sputnik-V vaccine. (Sheain Fernandopulle)