By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Sri Lanka has had to revise its order for 14 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be in line with the latest guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and thereby place an order for 6.8 million doses, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella told Parliament yesterday.  Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana on the plans made by the government to provide booster vaccines for COVID, the Minister said effective plans have been made by the government for a programme to provide a booster vaccine. 

 “We had already prepared plans for a booster vaccine program and placed an order for 14 million dozes of Pfizer vaccines but we had to reduce the order to be in line with the latest guidelines of the WHO,” the Minister said.  “We have to comply to the guidelines of the WHO when providing COVID 19 vaccines,” he added.  “Seven brands of vaccine out of a total of 16 are available in Sri Lanka,” he said.