All will receive so calm down, CMC and Pavithra tell the public
Excess doses to Kegalle
By Pamodi WaravitaFollowing reports that people within the Colombo District were flocking to vaccination centres to obtain their AstraZeneca Covid-19 second dose yesterday (1), the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) yesterday assured that all those who had received their first dose would be provided their second dose.An official from the CMC told The Morning that all those who are eligible for their second dose would be provided it within this week, and that there is no need to rush. The official added that all who are eligible would receive an SMS notification from the CMC informing the vaccination appointment details. Those who are unable to receive a SMS message are able to walk-in to any of the vaccination centres operating in the district to obtain their second dose. The Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi also assured the public that there are enough doses for everybody waiting to receive their second dose, as each Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area will operate one vaccination centre, amounting to a total of 20 centres in the Western Province. The Sri Lanka Army is administering the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the Colombo district at the Viharamahadevi Park Colombo (open 24/7), the Army Hospital Narahenpita, the Regimental Centre of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps Werahera, and the Bodirajaramaya Panagoda throughout this week. They can also be obtained from Diyatha Uyana Battaramulla from today (2) till Wednesday (4). In the Gampaha District, the second doses will be administered at the Kirillawala Maha Vidyalaya Kadawatha, the Dharmashoka Vidyalaya Kelaniya, and the Mariastella Vidyalaya Negombo.The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Hiranya Samarasekera said that limited online slots are available to be booked via vaccine.covid19.gov.lk.728,640 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine reached the country on 31 Saturday through the COVAX facility, Japan. Reportedly, another approximately 700,000 doses are also to be donated by the same facility. As of then, 539,357 people were awaiting their second dose.It is learnt that the remaining stock of the AstraZeneca vaccines would be administered as a first dose to eligible recipients in the Kegalle district.
