The timeframe for administering the second dose spans between April 23 and July 6 because the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was administered from January 29 to April 23.
The Health Ministry and relevant institutions will commence administering the second dose of the vaccine for those who received their first dose during the first round on time, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said in Parliament. She was responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under Standing Orders 27/2.
She said that under the first stage of vaccinations from January 29 until April 6, they had administered 924,687 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine. The Minister said that it had been scientifically proven that by administering the second dose of the vaccine after 12 weeks of the first dose, an optimal level of immunity could be obtained. The Minister said that the Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit has allocated 356,730 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to administer the second dose.
She said that as the requirement for the administering of the second dose is 924,687 doeses, in addition to the allotted 356,730 doses, another 568,000 doses are required.