Govt. admits delay in Serum’s 1 million vaccine order

The Government today acknowledged that there will be a delay in the delivery of 1 million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine from India’s Serum Institute.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr Ramesh Pathirana told the weekly Cabinet media briefing that though Sri Lanka was to receive 1 million doses from the Serum Institute, there will be a “minor delay” due to a fire that erupted in one of the buildings of the plants.

He did not specify how long of a delay the Government was looking at.

Dr Pathirana said though there  was a possibility of a delay in the next batch of 1 million doses of the vaccine from Serum Institute of India (SII), the institute had informed the Government that it will honour its agreement with Sri Lanka and will do its utmost to provide the vaccine doses as soon as possible.

Since there is still a gap of some weeks before those who received the first dose of the vaccine should receive the second dose, he expressed confidence that the vaccines will be delivered by then.

The Sunday Times reported exclusively last week that SII had informed the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) that it will not be able to deliver the 1 million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine by mid-March and April.

In a letter dated March 3, SII CEO Adar C. Poonawalla has informed SPC Chairman Dr Prasanna Gunasena that the fire at one of the plant’s buildings has “caused obstacles to the expansion of our monthly manufacturing output.”

Under the circumstances, the company notes that it cannot guarantee supply for the foreseeable months.

The Serum Institute has requested guidance from Sri Lanka on the “preferred course of action” – delayed vaccine arrivals (a schedule not known yet) or cancellation of the order and refund of the advance payments.

Sections of the media has made attempts to contradict the news report in the Sunday Times last week.