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Lanka receives 728,000 doses of Japan’s AstraZeneca vaccine
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At the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Japan's Ambassador Sugiyama Akira, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, WHO , UN officials and others mark the arrival of 728,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from Japan. Pic by T.K.G. Kapila
More than 728,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines were delivered to Sri Lanka by Japan yesterday through the World Health Organisation-led COVAX facility.
Japan has pledged a total contribution of over 1.4 million doses to Sri Lanka.
This is the third COVAX allocation to Sri Lanka under a donor-funded programme, with no cost to the country.
In March, Sri Lanka received 264,000 doses of AstraZeneca under the COVAX dose-sharing facility. This was followed by 1.5 million Moderna vaccines donated by the United States earlier this month.
“The AstraZeneca vaccines are a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s vaccination drive. The vaccine rollout combined with public health and social measures reflects the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to slow down the pandemic and put the country on track for a robust recovery,” a Government media statement said.
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said: “The arrival of this batch of vaccines is the result of continuous advocacy over the past several months by the Government of Sri Lanka, WHO, UNICEF, and the United Nations.
“It would not be possible without substantial support from the Government of Japan, which recognises that it is in every country’s best interest to work together to accelerate vaccination, because no country is safe until every country is safe,” she said.
Japan’s Ambassador Sugiyama Akira noted that “as a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka, it is our great honour to provide through COVAX approximately 1.45 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in Japan to further bolster the vaccination programme in Sri Lanka and ensure equitable access to vaccines for all people in need across the country.”
Japan has also provided USD 16.2 million to Sri Lanka to assist in the fight against COVID-19. The assistance covers improvements to the cold chain system. Globally, Japan has pledged USD 1 billion to the COVAX facility.
“Vaccination, alongside other preventive measures against COVID-19 is key in the fight against the pandemic. In line with the National Vaccine Deployment Plan, these vaccines will help reach the most vulnerable and key frontline workers,” said UNICEF’s Sri Lanka Representative Emma Brigham. “These vaccines from Japan to Sri Lanka demonstrate the true spirit of the collective global responsibility required to subdue the pandemic.”
The WHO Representative Dr Alaka Singh said, “Japan’s donation is much appreciated as an exemplary demonstration of global solidarity for the pandemic response. The contribution is critical for fully vaccinating those who have already received the first dose of AstraZeneca.
UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer noted that “with these vaccines, the COVAX Facility has provided Sri Lanka with more than 3.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines are from both donors earmarking allocations for Sri Lanka and the central allocation of doses provided to COVAX, she said.