(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive for age appropriate groups has commenced in India from 01 March 2021.
After Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers, the focus during this phase will be on people above the age of 60 years and those between 45 and 59 years with pre-specified co-morbidities.
After covering around 15 million people in the first phase, the next phase envisages around 100 million vaccinations.
On the day of roll out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the first dose of the indigenous Covaxin– developed and produced in India – on 1 March in New Delhi. Covaxin by Bharat Biotech has also been approved for use in India in addition to Oxford-Astrazeneca’s Covishield, which is being produced by Serum Institute of India. After receiving the vaccine, Prime Minister commended the doctors and scientists for having worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19.
India has been leading humanity’s fight against the pandemic from the front. Its vaccine manufacturing capabilities have been used for global good through supplying several millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries far and wide. For many of its neighbours and partners including Sri Lanka, India offered vaccines on a grant basis. Till date, India has provided 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine to Sri Lanka with 50% of it being gifted by India. There are plans to source more Covishield vaccines from India.
The roll out of the second phase of vaccination drive in India coincided with the High Commissioner receiving Covishield vaccine at the Army Hospital in Narhenpita. This was a part of Government of Sri Lanka’s vaccination programme for foreign diplomats serving in Sri Lanka, under which various diplomatic Missions in Sri Lanka are being covered in alphabetical order.
