Discussion on getting Sputnik V vaccine: Minister JayasumanaFinal decision after discussion with Russian envoy in Sri LankaThe Government will hold a key discussion next week with the Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka to take the final decision over bringing down the Sputnik V vaccine to prevent Covid-19, according to State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply, and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana. The discussion is scheduled to take place between State Minister Prof. Jayasumana and Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Yuri Materiy. Speaking to The Morning, Prof. Jayasumana said if the meeting proved successful, the Russian vaccine would be available to the state sector even before the vaccines promised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). If it is successful, the vaccine will be available in the state sector before the WHO vaccines arrive in the country,” he said. He added: “We’re in the COVAX programme, and the WHO is providing the vaccine for 20% of the population.

Source: The Nation December 21, 2020 22:07 UTC