Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday urged the people who have only received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine not to be fearful or doubtful about receiving the second dose.
He was responding to a question by a journalist at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held at the Government Information Department yesterday (11).
Although there was an agreement to purchase the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the sudden increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in India, the Indian government suspended export of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“As of now, based on information we received regarding the excess availability of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in countries like Indonesia and certain African countries, discussions are already underway with the relevant parties to obtain adequate doses of the vaccine,” he said.
Furthermore, following discussions held between the President and World Health Organisation (WHO) head, measures are also in place to obtain the required doses of the vaccine through the WHO, either from a country that manufactures the vaccine or that has already purchased it, the Minister noted.
“Therefore, it is highly likely that we could obtain the required doses in the coming month.
The first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine was already administered and there is only a limited time left till the second dose to be administered. Therefore, we are confident that we could obtain the required doses in the next month,” Minister Gammanpila stressed.
According to the medical experts, there are no adverse effects in receiving the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from two different brands of vaccines, he added.