Authorities are expecting approval of the Sputnik V vaccine for use in Sri Lanka in the coming days, Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Dr. Channa Jayasumana stated.

The remark was made during an overview of the country’s COVID-19 immunisation programme, and Dr. Jayasumana said an order has been placed with the Serum Institute for 18 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We estimate that the vaccine should be provided to 15 million persons. The World Health Organisation has expressed willingness to provide vaccines for 20% of the 15 million,” he said, adding that the Government of China had also expressed willingness to provide 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.

At present, only the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine has been approved for emergency use in the country by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). “With our vaccination campaign, measures will be taken to free the country from the COVID-19 pandemic within the next three months,” the State Minister added.

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