Tourism minister wants to vaccinate 12-18-year-olds in Gampaha
COLOMBO – Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for the Gampaha District, Prasanna Ranatunga, is looking to expand the Covid-vaccination drive to cover those between the ages of 12 and 18, at least in the Gampaha district, and is set to discuss the matter with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa shortly.
Noting that some countries have commenced inoculating all those above the age of 12 to control the spread of the coronavirus, Ratanatunga said he planned to propose the same process for the Gampaha District.
He has said that around 500,000 people above the age of 30, and 300,000 people between the ages of 18 to 30 in the Gampaha District have yet to get vaccinated. He also noted that there are around 300,000 school children between the ages of 12 and 18 in the Gampaha District who should be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, authorities on Sunday (8) announced that the government would be launching a 3-day vaccination program from Tuesday (10) to facilitate those above 60-years of age in the Western Province, who are yet to be vaccinated, to get to first jab.
A statement from the Department of Government Information urged everyone over the age of 60 to call 1906 and get themselves registered for the vaccination.
In a related development, the Sri Lanka Police said it has commenced a special operation in Colombo to trace those who have not been vaccinated with even a single dose. Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana said officers of the Community Policing Division have been assigned to identify people over 30 years of age who have not been vaccinated, and take them to get the vaccination..
He urged all those over 30 years of age residing in the Colombo city and yet to be vaccinated to go to the Sugathadasa Stadium and obtain their 1st dose in the next couple of days.
-ENCL