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2nd dose for ages 16-19 from 15 January

10 Jan 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera  The Health Ministry has decided to administer the second dose of Covid-19 vaccines to children between the ages of 16 and 19 years, three months after they received the first dose, and the said programme will commence on Saturday (15). When contacted by The Morning yesterday (10), Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said that the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 16 and 19 years was started on 15 October last year and that the second dose will be administered from 15 January 2022. He further said that since the administration of the first dose to children in the said age group initially took place in schools in the Colombo District, the second dose would also be commenced at schools in the Colombo District and then extended to other districts. “The relevant institutions have recommended that children between the ages of 16 and 19 years be given the second dose of Covid-19 vaccines. Accordingly, such children will be able to obtain it in schools or the respective hospitals three months after receiving the first dose,” Dr. Herath said. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the media over the weekend that a decision has been taken to roll out the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 16 and 19 years who have completed three months since the first dose. Speaking on the matter, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith told the media: “The prevalence of the Covid-19 disease is low among children and the majority of child fatalities due to the infection were among those who suffered from complications. However, children who do not have complications can also develop pneumonia following the Covid-19 infection.” The programme to administer the US-German-made Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children studying in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (A/L) classes in all education zones in the Colombo District commenced on 15 October 2021 and the vaccination of schoolchildren above 16 years of age commenced on 21 October 2021.   


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