The Oxford Covshield AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by Serum India, was imported to Sri Lanka on January 28 to control the Covid epidemic. From that day onwards, the vaccine was distributed in installments to the people of this country. Priority was given to the health sector and the security sector, and then vaccination was given to the people in the high risk areas where Kovid infections are most prevalent.
There too, the vaccine was given to various people in different areas without any plan and according to the government the first dose of the vaccine was given to 28,107 lakhs.
It is time for them to get the second dose of this vaccine. But at present there are only 300,000 Kovichild vaccines in Sri Lanka. There is another shortfall of six lakhs. Although it was supposed to be obtained from India, getting the vaccine has now become a problem as the owner of the serum company in India has fled the country.
The remaining 300,000 vaccines in Sri Lanka are currently being distributed to the defense and health sectors. Another 600,000 people have not yet received the second dose.
Meanwhile, the Sputnik vaccine and the synoform vaccine approved by the World Health Organization for the control of Covid are being brought to Sri Lanka and distributed to the public.
But those who took the first dose of Covshield are now in a desperate situation as they are unable to take the second dose. Should a person who has taken the first dose of Covichield receive another vaccine? Or inappropriate? The authorities in this country are not yet able to say.
So they just have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Udaya Gammanpila addressing a media briefing at the Government Information Department today (11) said that those who have taken only the first dose should not have any fears about taking the second dose.
Although there was an agreement to purchase the AstraZeneca vaccine in Sri Lanka, with the sudden increase in the number of Covid 19 patients in India, the suspension of the export of the vaccine to India caused a problem for nearly 600,000 people in Sri Lanka to obtain the second dose. He said that discussions have been initiated to obtain them from the countries.