Half the population to get COVID-19 jab free

By Thameenah Razeek

The Government is preparing to provide a COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to one half of the population in the country and a sum of Rs 11 Million has been allocated for that purpose.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet Media briefing at the Department of Government Information, yesterday (19), Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government would definitely bring a COVID-19 vaccine in March. He also refuted the claims that the Government will only provide a vaccine free of charge for 20 per cent of the population and he said they will try their best to give a vaccine free of charge for 50 per cent of the population of the country.

When asked whether the Government has made a decision on what vaccine should be purchased, Rambukwella said there were discussions currently on four of the main vaccines and they would consider it on various angles including the logistics related to the vaccine. 

Meanwhile, fielding a question posed by the Media related to anti-COVID-19 tonic introduced by a person named Dhammika Bandara from Kegalle, the Minister claimed that not only the tonic, but even the efficacy of the vaccine is not 100 per cent confirmed as yet.