The ongoing COVID-19 immunisation program in Sri Lanka on Tuesday administered the first dose of the Sputnik V and Sinopharm vaccines to 75,074 persons and the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to 1,272 persons.

A total of 348,582 persons have received the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the first having been administered to 925,242 persons.

The first dose of Sinopharm has been administered to 797,205 persons, while the first Sputnik V dose has been administered to 44,189 persons to date.

In total, 1,766,636 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 351,017 persons have received the second.

According to Family Health Bureau Director Dr. Chitramali de Silva, measures are being taken to begin vaccination of pregnant women, with seven COVID-19 related deaths of pregnant women reported in the country to date.

“We are currently preparing circulars to begin vaccination of pregnant women. We have planned to give priority to pregnant women with complications,” she said.

However, health officials requested that pregnant women refrain from visiting vaccination centres until they are notified to do so.

Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana yesterday explained that vaccine priority is decided based on high-risk Grama Niladhari Divisions, and data compiled by the Epidemiology Unit and State Intelligence Service.

The list arranges Grama Niladhari Divisions based on the risk they face and takes into account five key factors. These are the number of patients and the number of deaths from a GN Division since the onset of the pandemic as well as the number of patients and the number deaths within the past 14 days. The list also takes into account unique factors about the GN Division, for instance if the area has an apparel manufacturing facility or fish or vegetable market.

He explained that vaccination began in the Western Province due to the fact that most high-risk GN Divisions were in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts. The Western Province is followed by the Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, and Jaffna districts, where vaccination is taking place.

The State Minister added that vaccination will begin in high-risk GN Divisions in other districts when the country receives more COVID-19 vaccines.

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