The Epidemiology Unit stated that 21,147 frontline workers from health, military and Police units received immunisation against COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of persons in Sri Lanka to receive the vaccine to 139,914.

The first campaign of COVID-19 immunisation will target 250,000 frontline workers and will be implemented in two rounds. The first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca was administered to 5,286 persons on 29 January, 32,539 persons on 30 January, 21,329 persons on 31 January and 36,396 persons on 1 February.

The vaccine was administered to 23,217 persons on Tuesday.

The second round of vaccines will be administered a month from now and Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said no severe side effects have been reported yet.

However, some persons have been hospitalised, mainly for observation purposes.

Dr. Herath stressed that mild side effects like fever were to be expected with any vaccination and was no reason to refuse immunisation against COVID-19.

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