Sri Lanka kicks off coronavirus inoculations with Indian vaccine
What's the story
Sri Lanka on Friday launched its national coronavirus immunization campaign by administering the first shots to frontline health workers, soldiers, and security personnel, a day after India gifted 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine to the island nation.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa thanked India for its generosity after he received 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine donated by the country under the Neighbourhood First policy.
Vaccine program
Vaccination program happening at six hospitals in and around Colombo
Rajapaksa was joined at the airport by the Indian envoy in Colombo Gopal Baglay to receive the consignment that was packed in 42 boxes.
"Frontline health workers, the Army, and police are on the priority list to receive the coronavirus vaccine," The Colombo Gazette reported.
The coronavirus vaccination program is taking place at six hospitals in and around Colombo.
Vaccine
First jabs given to three soldiers and a senior physician
"The first jabs were given to three soldiers at the Army Hospital in Colombo," the report said.
"Senior Consultant Physician at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, became the first healthcare official to receive the vaccine," it said.
"The Health Ministry had said earlier that the vaccination program will be carried out on the staff on Friday," the report added.
Quote
Hospitals where the staff is being vaccinated
"Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath said that selected staff at Colombo National Hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Homagama Base Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital, and the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Angoda will be vaccinated," the report added.
Priority
Healthcare workers, police and aged will get vaccine on priority
Dr. Herath said that around 25 percent of the staff at these hospitals will be vaccinated in the beginning.
A total of 250,000 people, mostly health frontline workers, members of the security forces and police, and the vulnerable aged will get the vaccine on a priority basis.
Sri Lanka has recorded more than 61,000 coronavirus cases so far with 297 deaths.
Information
Covishield vaccine approved for emergency use by Sri Lankan Government
India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers and an increasing number of countries have approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines. The Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine, which is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, has been approved for emergency use by the Sri Lankan Government.
COVID-19
Four consignments of medical supplies were donated by India
Notably, four consignments of medical supplies weighing around 25 tonnes were donated by India, which also organized online experience-sharing programs for Sri Lankan medical professionals.
The two nations have also put up a joint front in the COVID-19 battle with India and Sri Lanka being the largest contributors to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for SAARC.