By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The recipients of the first jab of COVID-19 vaccine will receive the second dose from April 10 onwards, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, the State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation said.   

He told media that Sri Lanka would receive the ordered stock of AstraZeneca vaccines from India despite the export suspension which  was now in force.   “India will pay special consideration as Sri Lanka has already placed the order to purchase the required amount of vaccines,” he said.   “As Sri Lanka has sufficient stock of the AstraZeneca vaccines required for the second roll-out, there won’t be any shortage of vaccines until the end of May. Therefore, people should not worry about the export suspension,” the State Minister stressed. “Accordingly, Sri Lanka will receive a stock of 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines in the near future,” he added.   

He said Sri Lanka secured more than 1.2 million doses and only 800,000 doses had been vaccinated. He said the recipients of the first jab would start receiving the second one after April 10, 2021.   

Foreign media yesterday reported that India had put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca Coronavirus  vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s biggest vaccine-maker, to meet domestic demand as infections had risen. 

• India temporarily halts Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine exports 
• SL to receive vaccines from India despite temporary halt 
• SL has sufficient jabs until end of May required for second doses