The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to provide 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka under the COVAX facility.
According to News First, the WHO Director-General’s Special Envoy to coordinate the global response to COVID-19 Dr. Palitha Abeykoon said Sri Lanka will receive the AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine doses free of charge.
He further said the first consignment of vaccines, which is nearly 30% of the allocated amount, will be received by the end of February 2021.
Dr. Abeykoon further said that the remaining COVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed in several phases.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Primary Healthcare and Covid Disease Control announced today that a decision has been taken to purchase 09 million AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccines.
The Ministry said the Government has commenced measures to purchase the vaccine doses.
According to News Radio, the Ministry further said the vaccines will be made available to the private sector once acquired through Government intervention. (NewsWire)