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Next AstraZeneca stock next week

02 Aug 2021

 
  • Completes Japan’s promise of 1.456 million doses
  • Currently remaining stocks to Kegalle as first dose
  BY Pamodi Waravita Another consignment of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines from Japan is due to arrive in Sri Lanka by next Saturday (7), the President’s Media Division (PMD) quoted Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama as saying, which will fulfil Japan’s commitment to supply 1.456 million doses of the vaccine. The first half of this consignment, comprising 728,460 doses, was received last Saturday (31 July). While much of this recently received stock was allocated for distribution as second doses to citizens at 18 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices in the Kalutara, Gampaha, and Colombo Districts, the remainder of the existing stock is to be administered as the first dose to eligible citizens in the Kegalle District. Health Ministry Communications Director and Public Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath confirmed to The Morning yesterday (2) that the extra stocks of the AstraZeneca vaccine which arrived in the country on 31 July will be administered as a first dose to those in the Kegalle District. “Our first priority for the AstraZeneca stock that we received on 31 August is to provide the second jab for those who have not received it. The remaining stock is to be administered in the Kegalle District as the first dose,” added Dr. Herath. As of 31 July, 539,357 people that had been inoculated with AstraZeneca as their first dose were awaiting their second dose. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 69,266 people received their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine across 20 centres in the Western Province on 1 August. Meanwhile, The Sunday Morning reported last week that only 11% of Sri Lankans inoculated with the Sputnik V vaccine manufactured by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Russia have been fully vaccinated with both doses. Commenting on this, Dr. Herath said that although the increase in Covid-19 cases in Russia has temporarily halted the arrival of vaccines from the country, reports show that just one dose of the vaccine also provides the required immunity. The Health Ministry stated in early June that the administration of the Sputnik V vaccine could be limited to just one dose, while the Epidemiology Unit is currently reviewing as to whether a second dose of the Sputnik V vaccine is necessary, due to information that the first dose may be sufficient to provide immunity against the Covid-19 virus. In a study published in The Lancet, it is stated that the Sputnik V vaccine gives about 92% protection against the Covid-19 virus. Furthermore, Russia’s Health Ministry stated in June that the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine provides sufficient protection, even without the administration of a second dose. Furthermore, Dr. Herath said that rough surveys have been conducted concerning individuals who have chosen not to obtain a Covid-19 vaccine. “We are trying to address the concerns of those who cannot or do not want to get the vaccine. There are certain misconceptions preventing people from obtaining the vaccine. There are also certain logistical issues such as those experienced by the elderly or the weak, who cannot independently go out to get the vaccine. In the case of their caretakers, some are not able to help them go get the vaccine during the daytime, as they may work in other jobs during the day. We are trying to address all these issues so that a maximum number of people can get vaccinated,” noted Dr. Herath. According to the Epidemiology Unit, as of 1 August, the country has fully vaccinated (two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine) 2,254,887 people, which is approximately 10% of the total population.  


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