UNICEF country Representative Emma Brigham today said COVAX vaccine supplies mean so much for the future of the children and families in Sri Lanka.
She said UNICEF hopes that life can start returning to normal in the country, including that all children will be able to return to school and learning.
“The UNICEF-led supply operation to Sri Lanka, on behalf of the COVAX Facility, is part of one of the biggest vaccine procurement and supply operations in history. As the largest single vaccine buyer globally, UNICEF is geared to deliver 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines in 2021," she said.
Meanwhile, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr Razia Pendse, noted that: "the vaccines are a major breakthrough and a critical addition to our tool kit to fight COVID-19; they are however, not the silver bullet."
"Vaccination combined with public health and social measures will help us end the pandemic. It is important that as vaccination is rolled out, we continue to stay the course with each one of us committing to practicing known preventive measures to reduce the spread of the virus; such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands with soap, and avoiding crowded and enclosed spaces even when we have received the vaccine. Now is the time to be more vigilant and not let our guard down," she said.