COVID vaccine free of charge for general public

The government will provide the COVID-19 vaccines free-of-charge to the general public, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said.

At a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau, the State Minister said Sri Lanka expects the inoculation drive against novel coronavirus to kick off as soon as the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVISHIELD vaccine consignment containing nearly 600,000 vials of doses arrives from India.

The first group of people to be administered with the vaccine will be the nearly-300,000 health workers who are on the front line of pandemic in the country and the officers of tri-forces who work closely with them. The second jab will be given following a three-week interval from the first, she explained.

Speaking further, she said nearly 20% of the required vaccines are to be received through the COVAX initiative – the United Nations-backed global effort aimed at lower-income nations to obtain the jabs.

The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has been tasked with overseeing the vaccine import procedure, the State Minister added.