COLOMBO – Steps are being taken to administer the Pfizer vaccine for students sitting for the Advanced Level examinations this year, and as a booster shot for the entire population.
Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, told Parliament on Tuesday (21), that on a directive by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, officials of the Ministries of Education and Health had discussed the matter and it was decided to vaccinate all A/L students with the Pfizer vaccine.
Last week the government announced the Pfizer vaccine will also be administered to those aged between 15-19 and children above 12 years with disabilities.
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana said the decision was taken after obtaining medical advise locally and by studying the vaccination process overseas.
Jayasumana also said that Sri Lanka had ordered more stocks of the Pfizer vaccine to administer on children.
Meanwhile, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) said it has procured 14 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be administered as the booster shot of the coronavirus vaccine for the Sri Lankan population.
SPC Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena was quoted in the local media as saying the administration of the third dose will commence from mid-October or early November and will cover the entire population of Sri Lanka.
“The SPC has so far secured a total of 31.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. This is adequate to fully vaccinate the over 18 population in Sri Lanka,” he has said.
In a related development, the government on Tuesday gave a one-week deadline for those above the age of 30 who are yet to be inoculated to get themselves vaccinated, with State Minister Jayasumana urging the unvaccinated over 30s to get their jabs this week or face the consequences.
He said the government was forced to issue the deadline, as authorities needed to free up the vaccination centres, to being the inoculation drive for youths and adolescents in the country.
-CG/ENCL