Sri Lanka becomes first South Asian country to receive US-made Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Monday received the first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first country in South Asia to get the US made COVID-19 jab.

Officials say 26,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine directly purchased by the Sri Lankan government was flown into the country on Monday.

Great news this morning as #SriLanka becomes the first country in South Asia to purchase a contingent of #Pfizer vaccines. I am proud of the work that is being done by my government to ensure vaccines for all Sri Lankans. Vaccination continues throughout the country

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) July 5, 2021

Health authorities say that Sri Lanka had signed agreements to purchase five million doses of Pfizer vaccine this year.

The country is expected to receive about 200,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine this month.

Sri Lanka president Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in a tweet said "Sri Lanka becomes the first country in South Asia to acquire a contingent of Pfizer vaccines."

State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana said the Pfizer vaccine would be stored in a special facility developed by the government as the vaccine need to be kept at minus 70 degree Celsius.

Sri Lankan health authorities have so far used AstraZeneca manufactured in India, Chinese's Sinopharm and Russian Sputnik V in the country's battle against COVID-19.

Sri Lanka has seen a sharp increase of positive cases and deaths since April because of celebrations during the traditional new year festival.

The country was under lockdown from mid-May until the end of June.

Sri Lanka's total number of positive cases have reached 265,629 with 3,236 fatalities.

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