Sri Lanka requests Japan to provide 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

Sri Lanka is currently using Chinas Sinopharm and Rusian Sputnik V vaccines.Sri Lanka has witnessed an increase of positive cases and deaths since April, partly caused by celebrations and shopping during last months traditional new year festival.

Sri Lanka has requested Japan provide 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in an attempt to complete administering the second dose to citizens.

Sri Lanka is facing a severe shortage of AstraZeneca vaccines as the producer in neighboring India failed to provide the promised stock due to the crisis in that country.

On Wednesday, the president's office announced that president Gotabhaya Rajapaksa requested Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga provide 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca.

The request “has been met with positive responses,” according to a statement from the president's office. Sri Lanka is currently using China's Sinopharm and Rusian Sputnik V vaccines.

Sri Lanka has witnessed an increase of positive cases and deaths since April, partly caused by celebrations and shopping during last month's traditional new year festival. Sri Lanka has registered more than 210,000 cases and 1,843 confirmed deaths.

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