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Those waiting for a second dose: Will they get AstraZeneca? 

16 May 2021

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said that the Government is trying its best to procure the vaccines from various countries.   “The Serum Institute in India could not comply with the orders, given the current situation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) cannot procure the pending Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility, it is even beyond the control of the WHO," she said.   According to Dr. Fernandopulle, the COVAX facility had assured 1.6 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca, but only 264,000 doses were received.   “We were supposed to receive the balance in early May, but because of the outbreak in India, there had been issues in manufacturing the vaccine, and they are not in a position to supply,” she added.   While the Government is struggling to procure the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from other countries such as South Korea and Sweden, Dr. Fernandopulle stated that they are still hopeful.   Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Samantha Ananda said that during a discussion with the President, the GMOA had been informed about securing the pending Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine stocks from South Korea and the UK.  “The President had already commenced discussions with the respective countries to procure the vaccine. Also, we had been informed that some countries obtained more Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, and there is a surplus of vaccines in those countries. The President also said that he would hold official discussions with the relevant countries,” Dr. Ananda stated.   Pointing out that approximately 900,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines had been administered as the first jab, Sri Lanka at present has the capacity of 350,000 vaccines in order to be administered as the second jab.  “We have already commenced vaccinating the second dose, and the Government is trying to procure the rest of the 600,000 vaccines we are short of from other countries.”   According to an order placed by India at the request of Sri Lanka, the COVAX facility had said that they would provide Sri Lanka with 1,692,000 AstraZeneca vaccines by mid-year, this year, Dr. Ananda said.     Allegations over second dose    While denying allegations that the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are being administered without following a proper list according to the rollout of the first dose, State Minister Dr. Fernandopulle said that the front-liners, healthcare workers, and the tri-forces are being given the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca.    Reiterating that the second jab is not being given to the public yet, and that the remaining Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines would be given to the front-liners, Dr. Fernandopulle noted: “This is how we commenced giving the first dose, and we are indeed following a proper list. Those who got the first dose of AstraZeneca have the vaccination card with them, and the second jab would also be given to them accordingly.”


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