Pharmaceuticals or vaccinations that are being released as Covid-19 control or preventive medication should only be prescribed in Sri Lanka following successful clinical trials, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle revealed.
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State Minister for Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle speaks about prescribing preventive medication with the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccine at the Ministry of Health in Colombo, 14 December 2020[/caption]
Dr. Fernadopulle shared this observation during a discussion held with the expert committee appointed to oversee the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the country held recently.
The expert committee, which comprises virologists, microbiologists, and epidemiologists, met with the State Minister to table their views on the feasibility of using the Covid-19 vaccine to control Covid-19 in Sri Lanka.
The State Minister further said: "It is imperative to ensure that any medicine or vaccine prescribed by a doctor is not harmful to the human body and that there should be an accurate assessment of the complications and side effects caused by it, prior to prescribing the same to the larger part of the population."
Dr. Fernandopulle pointed out that the measures the Government is taking should always be in the best interest of the people and it should ensure that it does not create adverse impacts on the healthcare system of the country.
At present, four vaccines are being offered in the world: Oxford, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sputnik V, and Sinovac Biotech, on which a comparative inquiry was to be conducted, following which, Dr. Fernandopulle directed that further studies should be conducted and expert opinions should be submitted.
State Ministry Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, University of Colombo Prof. Jennifer Perera, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Prof. Neelika Malavige, and the Deputy Director of the Institute of Epidemiology participated in this discussion.
State Minister for Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle speaks about prescribing preventive medication with the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccine at the Ministry of Health in Colombo, 14 December 2020[/caption]
Dr. Fernadopulle shared this observation during a discussion held with the expert committee appointed to oversee the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the country held recently.
The expert committee, which comprises virologists, microbiologists, and epidemiologists, met with the State Minister to table their views on the feasibility of using the Covid-19 vaccine to control Covid-19 in Sri Lanka.
The State Minister further said: "It is imperative to ensure that any medicine or vaccine prescribed by a doctor is not harmful to the human body and that there should be an accurate assessment of the complications and side effects caused by it, prior to prescribing the same to the larger part of the population."
Dr. Fernandopulle pointed out that the measures the Government is taking should always be in the best interest of the people and it should ensure that it does not create adverse impacts on the healthcare system of the country.
At present, four vaccines are being offered in the world: Oxford, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sputnik V, and Sinovac Biotech, on which a comparative inquiry was to be conducted, following which, Dr. Fernandopulle directed that further studies should be conducted and expert opinions should be submitted.
State Ministry Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, University of Colombo Prof. Jennifer Perera, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Prof. Neelika Malavige, and the Deputy Director of the Institute of Epidemiology participated in this discussion.