The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $150 million for Sri Lanka to purchase COVID-19 vaccines and to improve vaccination information, delivery, and monitoring systems. The project is part of ADB’s USD 9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) launched last December to offer rapid and equitable vaccine-related support to its developing member countries. The Philippines-based regional bank said the loan will help finance the purchase of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to immunize about 4 million Sri Lankans, contributing to the government’s target to reach 80% vaccine coverage by 2023. ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously affected Sri Lanka’s economy, which is highly dependent on the services sector and tourism. ADB’s support will help protect millions of Sri Lankans from COVID-19 and strengthen the government’s response and vaccination program.

Source: The Nation July 10, 2021 08:37 UTC