AstraZeneca vaccines here next Saturday

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) –  The first consignment of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in Japan will arrive in Sri Lanka next Saturday, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

The Government of Japan has pledged to provide approximately 1.45 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine manufactured in Japan to Sri Lanka through the COVAX Facility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.

This decision has been taken in response to the request by the Government of Sri Lanka and as a part of Japan’s support to ensure equitable access to safe and effective vaccines for as many people as possible in the fight against COVID-19.

According to the Minister, a special flight carrying 728,460 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines is scheduled to depart from Japan on Saturday evening. This vaccine consignment was delayed due to logistics issues associated with the Tokyo Summer Olympics now underway.

“Priority will be given to administer the second dose to around 490,000 individuals who have already received the first dose of the vaccine,” said the Minister. It will then be decided as to how the rest of the consignment can be used.

Sri Lanka has been receiving a steady supply of vaccines during the past few weeks, which has helped expedite the vaccination process.