Sri Lanka to vaccinate under 30s as hospital admissions climb, third dose eyed
COLOMBO – With young people making up 30% of the hospital admissions for Covid-infected, Sri Lanka plans to vaccinate those under 30 years old from late August, while also eyeing a third dose for those who have already been vaccinated.
Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, Chairman State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), which is procuring the Covid vaccines, told reporters that Sri Lanka had already given the vaccine to some (below 30-year olds) in the apparel sector, and based on the vaccines the country was receiving, were confident of launching an inoculation drive for the under 30-year-olds by end August.
Dr. Gunasena acknowledged that almost 30% of the infected patients being admitted to hospitals and other treatment centres were below 30 years of age, but said the severity of the cases and mortality of patients in that age category were extremely low.
However, he said Sri Lanka will not wait until all the over 30s are vaccinated to start inoculating the 3.5 million people in the under-30 age category.
“By the end of August or first week of September our plan is to completely vaccinate around 96% of the above 30 age group,” he said, adding that while the program is continuing they will start to vaccinate those under 30 years of age, and conclude it by end September 2021.
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, who also heads the coronavirus task force said on Sunday (8), following a discussion with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday (6), preparations were being made for a third dose booster.
“Some countries have already started a booster dose or a third dose,” Silva said.
China has also started importing Pfizer vaccines for use as a third dose, media reports said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this week told developed nations not to go in for a third dose until more in poorer nations are vaccinated.
“We discussed with the World Health Organization regarding this,” Gunasena said, explaining, “They said 40% of the population is expected to be completely vaccinated by December, and to vaccinate 70% of the world population it will take till July 2022.
“So, they are not discussing giving a third dose at the WHO level at the moment.”
However, noting that some countries have begun experiments and trials on a third or annual booster dose, Dr. Gunasena said, once the vaccination program for the over 30s is concluded, and if there is a necessity for a third dose, there was no need to worry, as there were enough vaccines for that as well.
-economynext.com/ENCL