What it will take to overcome the pandemic
May 15,2021 - Last updated at May 15,2021
By Palitha Abeykoon, Maha El Rabbat and David Nabarro
GENEVA As special envoys on COVID-19 for the director-general of the World Health Organisation, we have witnessed firsthand the intensity of the suffering caused by the pandemic, especially in poorer communities. This profound tragedy has been evolving before our eyes and still is nowhere near its end.
In our experience, the first priority in responding to an infectious disease is to save lives and protect the health and well-being of current and future generations. At the same time, we are increasingly concerned by the tremendous social and economic damage that COVID-19 has wrought. With people everywhere struggling to preserve their livelihoods under the constant threat of the coronavirus, it has become clear that this pandemic is more than a health emergency. It has become a global whole-of-society crisis.
Sri Lanka received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. This delivery is the first wave of arrivals that will continue in the coming weeks and months to cover 20% of Sri Lanka's population. All these doses are donor-funded and provided at no cost to Sri Lanka. Arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility in Sri Lanka marks another step in our goal to ensure equitable and fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally. COVAX is a global vaccine initiative co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), funded by donations from governments, multilateral institutions and foundations; with UNICEF leading on procurement, logistics, and storage globally in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. COVAX is working in partnership with the World Bank, ADB, member countries, civil society organizations, manufactu
Today, Sri Lanka received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. This delivery of 264,000 doses is part of the first wave of arrivals that will continue in the coming weeks and months; culminating in 1,440,000 doses arriving through May. The additional doses to cover 20% of Sr
380,000 COVID Vaccines from WHO s COVAX to SL newsfirst.lk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsfirst.lk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
2021-02-04 12:06:56 GMT2021-02-04 20:06:56(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
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COLOMBO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka s State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) has sent a purchase order for 18 million doses of the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine against the COVID-19 virus from India as part of the government s aim to vaccinate its citizens as soon as possible, local media reported here Thursday.
State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation Channa Jayasumana said the purchase order was sent by the SPC and once received, these vaccines are expected to immunise persons between aged 30 and 60 alongside the vaccination of persons over the age of 60.