• Several advertisements are now being circulating in the internet about selling these vaccines for Rs.5,000 each

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

There are reports surfacing that selling of  the COVID-19 AstraZeneca second dose vaccines at Rs. 5,000 each besides the Government’s vaccination drive, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.  

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Naveen de Zoysa told the media that since a limited number of AstraZeneca vaccines were delivered to the country, people, had formed long queues in a rush to obtain them.  
“Meanwhile, certain racketeers have capitalised this situation to maliciously sell these vaccines. In that case, it will paint a very bad picture on the Govt’s vaccination drive,” Dr. Zoysa said.  

“The vaccination programme is being conducted as per a scientific methodology and to an accepted procedure, unlike the other ordinary vaccination. It should be rolled out following special procedures. Otherwise, the people who get the vaccine will not get the desired immunity,” he said.  

“Several advertisements are now being circulating in the internet about selling these vaccines for Rs.5,000 each and several conversations have been made over the distribution of the vaccine. It will plunge the country into a very critical situation,” Dr. Zoysa warned.   Therefore, the Health Services Director General should pay his full attention and take immediate steps to stop the racketeering, he said.  “The probe should include as to whether those vaccines have slipped out of the warehouses or from the persons who are assigned to issued them. 

All administrative responsibilities on issuing and handling of these vaccines should be entrusted to the Epidemiology Unit. They should also probe  as to under whose authority these vaccines have been allowed to sell,” Dr. Zoysa said.  

The Health Minister’s attention too has been drawn in this regard and urged her to conduct an immediate inquiry into this malicious racketeering, Dr. Zoysa stressed. 

• These vaccines are provided for the people free of charge, therefore,  the Health Services Director General should investigate and find out as  to how these vaccines have made their way into the hands of the  racketeers 

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