First batch of Sputnik V COVID vaccine arrives

The first batch of the 15, 000 doses Russian of manufactured Sputnik V COVID vaccines were delivered to the country in the early hours of this morning. 

The vaccine consignment was accepted at the Bandaranike Internaitonal Airport (BIA) by State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation Channa Jayasumana. 

The Sputnik V vaccine will need to be stored at a temperature of -20C°, State Minister of COVID Disease Prevention Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle said. 

She added that Russian authorities will monitor how the vaccines are stored at the airported, how they are transported to the central storehouse of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), how they are securely stored at the warehouse, how the vaccines are then transported to provincial hospitals and stored there. 

The vaccine must also be administered within two hours of the vials being opened. "The Russian authorities will monitor the entire process from the accepting of the vaccines at the airport to administering it to the recipients. Only if they are satisfied with the entire process will Sri Lanka receive the remaining doses of the vaccine," the State Minister added. 

(By T.K.G. Kapila)

Photos Courtesy Russian Embassy of Sri Lanka Twitter Account