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‘Doses reserved for those needing the second jab in April’
Health Services Director-General Dr. Asela Gunawardena assured that the second doses – around 230,000 – for those who got their first jab initially have been kept in reserve and would be administered at the right time.
So far, Sri Lanka has received 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVISHIELD from India as a donation and bought another 500,000 doses of the same vaccine from the Serum Institute of India.
This is while Sri Lanka has received 264,000 doses of COVISHIELD under the COVAX initiative. These vaccines are being rolled out in the community to the elderly (over-60s) in the high risk areas of Colombo and Gampaha districts.
COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access) works with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, once they are licensed and approved. It is co-led by GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The COVID-19 immunisation breakdown from January 29 to March 25 is as follows:
January 29 to February 4 — 146,327 (frontline health and security forces personnel). Their second dose is due between April 9 and 15
February 5 to February 11 — 31,760. Their second dose is due between April 16 and 22
February 12 to February 18 — 55,385 (with the community vaccination also being launched during this time). Their second dose is due between April 23 and 29
February 19 to February 25 — 159,997. Their second dose is due between April 30 and May 6
February 26 to March 4 — 257,522. Their second dose is due between May 7 and 13
March 5 to 11 — 108, 557. Their second dose is due between May 14 and May 20
March 12 to 18 — 56,037. Their second dose is due between May 21 and 27
March 19 to 25 — 54,124. Their second dose is due between May 28 and June 3
The total vaccine doses received by Sri Lanka stands at 1,264,000 (1.26 million), with the total vaccinated up to March 25 (Thursday) being 869,709.