600,000 doses of Sinopharm arrive in SL

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong hands over 600,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday, as a New Year gift and greetings from China to the people of Sri Lanka. 

• Chinese nationals to receive vaccine till WHO approval given
• Medical specialists appeal for clarity on vaccine policy  

The 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine developed in China yesterday arrived in the island and was officially handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Sri Lanka received the vaccines as a donation from the Government of China following a request made by President Rajapaksa.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Media Division, the SriLankan Airlines flight UL 869 carrying the vaccines arrived in the island at 11:28 a.m. yesterday. 

Arrangements were made for the consignment to be transported to the centre storage facility of the Health Ministry.

The vaccines can only be administered on Sri Lankans following approval from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) but Chinese nationals residing in Sri Lanka will receive the vaccine from Monday.

Regarding the delay in NMRA approval for Sinopharm, Cabinet Co-Spokesperson and Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said at the Cabinet briefing on Tuesday that NMRA was awaiting phase four trial data.

“NMRA officials have requested to see the phase four clinical trial results in English before deciding on giving approval. Therefore, the initial use of the Sinopharm vaccine will only be for Chinese workers residing in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) on Tuesday criticised conflicting statements made by Government sources, NMRA, and print media about the Sinopharm vaccine and asked that the independence of the NMRA is maintained.

A statement signed by AMS President Dr. L.A. Ranasinghe said an NMRA report issued on 17 March found that the data provided on Sinopharm was insufficient to determine the safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of the vaccine and that it should not be used in Sri Lanka.

“Despite this clear recommendation of a properly-constituted independent expert advisory panel, we are concerned about reports that a newly-reconstituted Board of the NMRA appears to have taken an unprecedented step to disregard the expert panel opinion and allowed the import of the said vaccine to be used on Sri Lankans,” Dr. Ranasinghe wrote.

He also showed great anxiety and dismay over the arbitrary appointments and removals being made to the Board of NMRA.