India to donate Covid-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka this month

• Steps underway to register Pfizer, Sputnik V and AstraZeneca vaccines
• Health Ministry ready by the end of month for roll out
• Vaccination centres to be set up countrywide

By Kelum Bandara 

India will donate a consignment of Covid-19 vaccines being manufactured there by the end of this month as a gesture of goodwill between the two countries, 
a Minister said.   

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Professor Channa Jayasumana told the Daily Mirror the health authorities would be ready with everything for inoculation at the same time. He said the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation would act as the agent of purchasing or obtaining Covid-19 vaccines.  

Procedural steps are now underway for the registration of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russia and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine ahead of roll out in Sri Lanka. AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was invented by AstraZeneca Company and Oxford University. However, it is manufactured by Serum Institute of India. Last Sunday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for doses of vaccines. It was also discussed with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar when he came to Sri Lanka on a bilateral visit.   

Prof. Jayasumana said the health authorities were establishing 4,000 vaccination centres throughout the country.   

“We have identified the priority groups to be given the jabs,” he said. The Minister said Sri Lanka remains open for vaccine cooperation with China.   
Besides, the SPC has signed an agreement with Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia in view of cooperation on Sputnik V vaccine.  

• SPC has signed an agreement with Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia in view of cooperation on Sputnik V vaccine