Order for 18 million COVID19 vaccines placed, 500,000 vaccines due next week

Half a million COVID-19 vaccines of a stock of 18 million vaccines for which an order has been placed will be arriving in a week’s time,  Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said today (15).

He said accordingly the Health authorities will be able to commence the vaccine programme for the public shortly.

He said that the order placed will be sufficient for nine million of the population as two doses should be given to each person.

The Army Commander said that in addition the government was expecting the vaccines stocks to be provided free of charge by the World Health Organisation.

He said there are discussions to increase the free doses from 20 per cent of the population up to 27 per cent.

Meanwhile the COVID19 Task Force is due to meet today to discuss the measures to be taken in view of the detection of the  new variant of the virus.

Police Spokesman and Deputy Inspector General Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Times that no decision had been taken on a lockdown, though the matter would be taken up for discussion.

The Army Commander today said so far no discussion of a lockdown has been taken, but measures to be taken in view of the detection of the new variant of the virus will be discussed.