COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka
.jpg) A Sri Lankan woman is vaccinated in 2021 as part of the COVAX initiative | |
| Date | 29 January 2021 – present |
|---|---|
| Location | Sri Lanka |
| Cause | COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka |
| Organized by | Government of Sri Lanka |
| Outcome |
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| Part of a series on the |
| COVID-19 pandemic |
|---|
 |
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.svg){kind=small} COVID-19 portal |
COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka is an ongoing immunisation campaign against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, in response to the ongoing pandemic in the country. As of late July, the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine accounted for 78% of the total 13.8 million vaccines obtained by Sri Lanka to date.[1] The United States donated over 1.5 million Moderna vaccine through COVAX.[2]
Background
[edit]The Government of Sri Lanka commenced its COVID-19 vaccination program under the COVAX facility with first batch of Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccines arrive in Sri Lanka on 28 January 2021 from the Serum Institute of India. (SII).[3]
Shortages
[edit]By April, with a surge in COVID cases in a third wave of infections, Sri Lanka faced a severe shortage of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine due to an export ban by India.[4] This left majority of the 3.5% of the population that was given the first dose without access to the second.[5] Sri Lanka faced an shortage of Sputnik V vaccine due to a spike of cases in Russia resulting in the manufacturer Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, focusing on meeting local demand.[6]
Other vaccine supplies
[edit]In March 2021, the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine was approved emergency use.[7] In May, the country ordered 14 million doses on top of 1.1 million doses previously donated.[8] By July, Sri Lanka had received 10.7 million doses of the vaccine.[1] In June, local studies in the country showed vaccination with the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine generated seroconversion and antibody responses in individuals to Delta and Beta variants similar to antibody levels seen following a natural infection[9][10]
Phase three
[edit]With vaccination of persons above 30 years reaching completion, vaccination of those between 18 and 30 years who did not fall under special categories were started in early September 2021.[11]
Proposed vaccine production
[edit]On 27 May State Minister for Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana told reporters Sri Lanka was considering co-production of CoronaVac. It was not clarified if it would handle full production or a fill and finish plant.[12]
Vaccination programme
[edit]Vaccines used
[edit]Currently, the vaccines approved by government of Sri Lanka for emergency use are:
| Vaccine | Approval | Deployment |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford–AstraZeneca |  Yes
|
Yes[3]
|
| Sinopharm BIBP | Yes
|
Yes[13]
|
| Sputnik V | Yes
|
Yes[14]
|
| Pfizer–BioNTech | Yes
|
Yes
|
| Moderna | Yes
|
Yes
|
| Sinovac | Yes
|
 No
|
Vaccine distribution
[edit]Vaccine types were deployed on a geographical and group basis:
- Special groups
- Medical professionals and front line workers: Oxford–AstraZeneca
- Students travelling overseas for studies: Pfizer–BioNTech
- Migrant workers travelling overseas for work: Pfizer–BioNTech
- Fishermen in Mannar: Pfizer–BioNTech
- Geographical
- Western province: Oxford–AstraZeneca, Sinopharm BIBP
- Central province: Sputnik V, Moderna
- Southern province: Oxford–AstraZeneca, Sinopharm BIBP
- North Western province: Oxford–AstraZeneca, Sinopharm BIBP
- Northern province: Sinopharm BIBP
- Eastern province: Sinopharm BIBP
- Sabaragamuwa province: Sinopharm BIBP
- Uva province: Sinopharm BIBP
- North central province: Sinopharm BIBP
Vaccine on order
[edit]| Vaccine | Type (technology) | Doses ordered | Manufacturer | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford–AstraZeneca | Viral vector | 8,400,000 |  Serum Institute
|
- |
| Sputnik V | Viral vector | 13,000,000 |  R-Pharm
|
- |
| Pfizer–BioNTech | RNA | 14,900,000 [15][11] |  Pfizer
|
- |
| Sinopharm BIBP | Inactivated virus | 23,000,000[16][8] |  Sinopharm
|
- |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Sri Lanka had little choice except China's Sinopharm: Weeratunga". EconomyNext. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "U.S. donates over 1.5 million Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka". usembassy.gov. US Embassy in Sri Lanka. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b "First batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility arrive in Sri Lanka". who.int. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka's COVID-19 Response: Saving Lives Today, Preparing for Tomorrow". World Bank. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "The Latest: Sri Lanka looks to ease shortage with Sputnik V". independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Sputnik V vaccine supply hindered due to spike in Covid cases in Russia". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "NMRA approves sinopharm vaccine for emergency use". Colombo Gazette. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b "The Latest: Sri Lanka gets 2nd vaccine donation from China". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Tests in Sri Lanka find Sinopharm vaccine very effective". Colombo Gazette. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Jeewandara, Chandima; Aberathna, Inoka Sepali; Pushpakumara, Pradeep Dharshana; Kamaladasa, Achala; Guruge, Dinuka; Jayathilaka, Deshni; Gunesekara, Banuri; Tanussiya, Shyrar; Kuruppu, Heshan; Ranasinghe, Thushali; Dayarathne, Shashika (19 July 2021). "Antibody and T cell responses to Sinopharm/BBIBP-CorV in naive and previously infected individuals in Sri Lanka". medRxiv 10.1101/2021.07.15.21260621v1.
- ^ a b "Govt. aims to complete vaccinating all above 18 by September end". Adaderana. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka to co-produce Sinovac vaccines: Minister". EconomyNext. 27 May 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka begins administering Sinopharm vaccines". xinhuanet. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka rolls out Russia's Sputnik V vaccine". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka to purchase 900,000 doses of Pfizer-BionTech COVID-19 vaccine in July". economynext.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka eyes 3mn Sinopharm Covid-19 doses to ramp up Coronavirus vaccination drive". economynext.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
