Sri Lanka approves Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine amid warnings of virus spread
Sri Lanka has approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 amid warnings from doctors that front-line health workers should be quickly inoculated to stop the system from collapsing
Sri Lanka, State Minister for Pharmaceutical Production and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana said the British vaccine has been approved for emergency use, the first in Sri Lanka, while several other candidates are in the pipeline at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.
Speaking to media today (22), the State Minister said the vaccine will reach Sri Lanka soon. However, It is unknown when Sri Lanka will be getting the vaccine. Also, applications have been received with respect to other Covid-19 vaccines for approval, he further said.
“Vaccines need to be given quickly to keep the health workers’ morals up and we need health workers to treat patients," Aluthge said.
Doctors blame complacency.
“We were a success story, but the issue was we all as Sri Lankans forgot COVID-19 was existing. We thought that COVID was over,” said Senal Fernando, secretary of the doctors' union.
- With the input from Associated Press