• Serum Institute confirms SPC order of 500,000 vaccines in March, April
• SPC also looking to purchase Sputnik V vaccine from Russia

By JAMILA HUSAIN

The Serum Institute in India, yesterday confirmed that it will deliver 500,000 doses of the Covishield Astra Zeneca vaccines to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) in March and will deliver a further 500,000 doses during the month of April, while health authorities said the second dose of the Astra Zeneca would be administered to the public on time.

SPC General Manager Dinusha Dassanayake told the Daily Mirror that the SPC would receive 1 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccines by April as planned and the SPC was also in discussions to purchase the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia now that the NMRA had cleared it for emergency use in Sri Lanka.

Dassanayake said that moving forward the SPC would place further orders to purchase vaccines which were approved under emergency use by the NMRA as and when the need arises.  A senior health official said that those who had been inoculated with the first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine would receive the second dosage on time within a span of 10 to 12 weeks and there would be no shortage.  The official said a formal announcement would be made when the second doses begin to be administered and the public will be informed.

He urged people to preserve the vaccination cards which had been handed out when receiving the first dose of the vaccine, stating it had a serial number and the date of the first dose which would be required when receiving the second dosage.

• Health authorities urge people not to panic, second dosages will be given as planned