First batch of ’Sputnik V’ COVID vaccine expected next month

Sri Lanka has placed an order for seven million doses of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine after it was approved by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). 

The first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine is expected in the country next month, an official from the State Ministry of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation told Times Online. 

The Sputnik V vaccine however, poses more challenges than the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as the former has to be maintained at -18 °C. As such, health authorities are currently in the process of devicing plans to store the vaccine under the required temperature, the official added. 

Health authorities are not expecting any delays in the delivery of the vaccine, unlike the next batch of the AstraZeneca from the Serum Institute in India, which recently informed Sri Lanka that it could not guarantee delivery of the next batch of vaccines ordered following a fire at its plant affecting production.

As such, the COVID vaccination programme is expected to continue with the Sputinik V vaccine, the official stated.