The first batch of 304,000 doses out of the total volume of four million Pfizer vaccine vials has been flown into the country from the US and freighted by Qatar Airways, Sri Lanka Pharmaceuticals Corporation General Manager Dinusha Dasanayake said.

He said the air cargo weighing 1817 kg packed in 53 cartons touched down at the BIA around 2.00 am today.

The vaccine was originally flown via Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Doha, Qatar and from there to Colombo, Mr. Dasanayake said.

The cargo was stored at the Katunayake Airport Cargo Village freezer facility and subsequently, transferred to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation Central Warehouse in Colombo by the corporation's freezer trucks. (T.K.G Kapila)