31 July 2021 05:09 pm Views - 3876
The much awaited stock of 728,460 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccines arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport a short while ago from Japan through the WHO's Covax facility.
The doses will begin to be administered from tomorrow to members of the public who received the first dose of Astra Zeneca, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.
The Daily Mirror learns that during Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa's visit to Tokyo recently, he had held discussions with Special Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister, Dr. Hirotho Izumi over several matters and one such matter which was raised was the Sri Lankan government's aim to inoculate the nearly 500,000 people with the second jabs of AstraZeneca.
Then during discussions with Japan's Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, the matter was raised once again.
Japan had responded positively to dispatch the vaccines as soon as possible.
The Army Commander has requested everyone not to rush to ViharaMaha Devi Park tomorrow where the vaccines will begin to be rolled out as the army will be vaccinating all those who had received the first jabs over a few days.
Further, the CMC and MoH will also be administering the doses. (JAMILA HUSAIN)