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Lanka begins using Sinopharm vaccine
View(s):Sri Lanka yesterday put into use the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine by vaccinating more than 300 people in Panadura amidst plans to either import or seek a further donation from China, as the COVID-19 situation worsened.
Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, told the Sunday Times they hoped to provide the available Chinese vaccine to some 300,000 people while retaining the second dose for them. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) yesterday granted approval under emergency-use listing (EUL) for the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, a day after the World Health Organiz=sation (WHO) did so.
“On the recommendations of the Panel of Experts, the NMRA granted this approval yesterday,” said NMRA Chairperson Dr. Rasitha Wijewantha, adding that approval for the Pfizer vaccine was granted on Friday after the nod of the Panel of Experts.
In January, the NMRA granted EUL for the AstraZeneca vaccine and in early March for Sputnik V.
While 15,000 Sputnik V vaccines were brought into the country this week, China had donated 600,000 doses of which 5,318 doses have been used to vaccinate Chinese workers in the country.
Health officials confirmed that 670 people in Gothatuwa in the 30-60 age group have been vaccinated with the Russian vaccine.
Meanwhile the Government has placed an order for the import of 2.2 million PCR test kits to increase the number of tests.
To increase the PCR tests, the Government also hopes to carry out testing on a shift basis.
The moves came as the COVID-19 death toll increased to 86 in a week, the highest for a week. The numbers of COVID-19 infected persons were also on the rise with more than 1,800 cases a day this week.