The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal put forward by the Minister of Health to purchase seven million doses of Russia’s Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines at a cost of $ 69.65 million, the Department of Government Information said yesterday.

The Sputnik-V vaccine has been approved for emergency use in Sri Lanka by the National Medicine Regulatory Authority.

The Ministry of Health plans to vaccinate 3.5 million Sri Lankans against the COVID-19 virus through the purchase of this stock of vaccines. Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella also said the Government will import fresh stocks of AstraZeneca to meet the second jab requirements and the Russian vaccine would only be deployed in central areas of the country that has not been covered by any COVID-19 immunisation programs.  

253 persons test positive for COVID-19

844,327 persons vaccinated against COVID-19