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The COVID-19 immunisation program on Thursday reached a milestone by administering over 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, the highest number of vaccines administered within a day.
On Thursday, 515,830 persons received the first or second dose of the Sinopharm, Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 9,178,909 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,063,809 persons have received both doses of the vaccine.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 79.8% of the country’s population over age 30 have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 18% have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is still number one globally in daily COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people according to Our World in Data. A 29 July update shows Sri Lanka leading with a rate of 1.78. Ecuador has a rate of 1.24, Turkey has a rate of 1.11, and China has a rate of 0.97. The data on Ecuador and China is for 28 July.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, on Thursday, 418,494 persons received the first dose of the Sinopharm COIVD-19 vaccine and 56,738 persons received the second dose of the vaccine. In total, 7,188,692 persons have received the first dose of Sinopharm and 1,663,421 persons have received the second dose of Sinopharm.
The first dose of Pfizer was administered to 38,430 persons on Thursday, raising the number of Pfizer first doses administered to 194,101.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was also administered on Thursday, with 2,168 persons receiving the first dose. In total, 711,793 persons have received the first dose of the vaccine.
In addition to this, 159,081 persons have received the first dose of Sputnik V and 14,503 persons have received the second dose of Sputnik V.
The first dose of AstraZeneca has been administered to 925,242 persons and the second dose to 385,885 persons. The country has been facing a shortage of 539,357 doses of AstraZeneca to fully vaccinate persons but is due to receive 728,460 doses of the vaccine this evening. The vaccines will be donated by Japan and received through the COVAX Facility.
Priority will be given to persons awaiting the second dose of AstraZeneca and vaccination is due to commence tomorrow.