• World Health Organisation approval for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was still pending
• A further 300,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine has been promised to the country

By Yohan Perera   

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday urged the Government to clarify the confusion surrounding the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses which Sri Lanka is to receive shortly.  

Speaking to media at Sirikotha, UNP member Sudath Jayasundera, questioned the Government on the contradiction in numbers related to the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which are allegedly purchased by the authorities.  
“According to the Army Commander, a consignment of 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in the country this week. However, there is no indication of the origin of these vaccines. The Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority told media over the weekend that the World Health Organisation approval for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was still pending, and they were hopeful this would be provided within the week. This approval is necessary for Sri Lanka to receive the vaccine via the COVAX facility. With the delay in the arrival of the vaccines via the WHO, the UNP requests the Government to elaborate as to where these 500,000 doses are being provided from,” he said.  

Furthermore, there  was confusion over the total number of COVID-19 vaccines that the country  was expecting. “At present the country is in possession of 500,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses gifted by the Indian Government. A further 300,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine has been promised to the country However, to date, the required approvals have not been provided for this vaccine maker,” it is said.