All parliamentarians are scheduled to be vaccinated against Covid-19 from today (16).
Sergeant-at-Arms of Parliament Narendra Fernando said that all Members of Parliament have been informed to turn up at the Army Hospital in Narahenpita to receive the vaccine.
Accordingly, all Parliamentarians will be given the Covid-19 vaccine on the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th of February.
Seven MPs as well a few staff members at the Parliamentary Complex had already tested positive for Covid-19.
However, the staff at the Parliamentary Complex will not be vaccinated today, Sergeant-at-Arms of Parliament Narendra Fernando said, adding that no decision has been taken yet with regard to the inoculation of staff members.
Meanwhile, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C.B. Ratnayake was vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Army Hospital last week.
Vaccination for general public
The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has given regulatory clearance for the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the vaccine has been extended to the general public from Monday (15). Head of the National Operations Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that the vaccine will be administered first to the most vulnerable people in the Western Province.
Accordingly, the inoculation drive of 552 workers attached to the Solid Waste Management Division of the Colombo Municipal Council began yesterday.
State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle told Neth News that public support is essential to ensure the success of the vaccination programme.
AG approves agreement to purchase vaccines
The agreement to purchase COVID-19 vaccines from India's Serum Institute, subject to certain amendments, was approved by the Attorney General (AG), the Coordinating Officer to the AG, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.
Health authorities announced earlier that Sri Lanka has made a purchase order for 18 million doses of the Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India.
Local agent forgoes commission
Meanwhile, a senior official of the Ministry of Health affirmed that the local agent of the Serum Institute of India, the manufacturers of the COVISHIELD vaccine which will be distributed free of charge by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), will not charge any commission.
The majority of vaccines currently used in Sri Lanka are also manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
WHO approves AstraZeneca vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday listed the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use.
The listing by the UN health agency comes days after a WHO panel provided interim recommendations on the vaccine, saying two doses with an interval of around 8 to 12 weeks should be given to all adults, and can be used in countries with the South African variant of the coronavirus, as well.
Meanwhile, India has in principle agreed to supply 500,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine to Canada following a request made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
It is reported that the Indian government has also decided to supply the Covishield vaccine to armies of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and other neighbouring countries.
