Govt. to spend Rs. 42 b to buy 14 m Sinopharm doses

• Cabinet approves move as matter of urgency
• 1 m doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to be sourced too
• Govt. says priority is to vaccinate more people as early as possible
• Aims at vaccinating 60% to 70% of the population by year-end

The Government yesterday confirmed a previously announced purchase of 14 million doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine at a cost of $ 15 each or approximately Rs. 42 billion ($ 210 million) in total.

A decision to this effect was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers as a matter of urgency.

In addition, the Cabinet has approved the purchase of one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to expedite the national vaccination program. The cost of the AstraZeneca vaccine wasn’t disclosed. 

Co-Cabinet Spokesman  Dr. Ramesh Pathirana

The proposal to procure COVID vaccines was tabled by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

Previously, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena went public that 32 million doses of vaccines including 14 million of Sinopharm had been secured.

“Our priority is to vaccinate more people at the earliest possible time. The previously required quantity of 13.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine was not fulfilled. With nearly one million people having been administered with the first shot of the AstraZeneca, the Government managed to give the second jab of the same make to only 300,000 people and is still awaiting the remaining 600,000 plus doses required. We still have not got the confirmation from the firm for the pending requirement,” Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told reporters at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting briefing yesterday.

He said the Government previously faced a major difficulty in sourcing the vaccine from AstraZeneca India as the company too had to undergo many challenges because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases within the country, as well as a fire breaking out in its manufacturing plant. The firm then found it difficult to match the increased demand for vaccines. 

“Considering the inability to provide sufficient quantities, the Government had to explore other sourcing opportunities and as a result we decided to purchase from Sinopharm,” Pathirana added.

When inquired about the cost of the Sinopharm vaccine, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila said it will be $ 15 per dose.

He said the need to expedite the supply of vaccines has been recognised by the Government as there was no other solution to COVID-19 apart from inoculation. 

“The Government has planned to vaccinate 60% to 70% of the country’s population against COVID-19 by the end of the year,” the Ministers said.

The country’s vaccine procurement success rests on an eight-member task force appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in early January. As of 24 May, 1.45 million first doses have been administered, but only 333,000 second doses. 

Globally over 1.67 billion vaccine doses have been administered, equal to 22 doses for every 100 people. According to www.statista.com, nearly 30 countries including UAE, Israel, Bahrain, Qatar, UK, Maldives, US, Bhutan, Hungary, Malta, and Canada, have been either fully vaccinated, or over 50%, enabling them to resume normal public activity.