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Covid-19 vaccination programme: Facing demand-driven issues

23 May 2021

  • Three times the recorded infections: State Minister

  • If not methodical, larger problems in future: GMOA

  • Discussions to secure second dose of AstraZeneca

By Yumiko Perera   Over the past week, Sri Lanka saw the highest number of infections recorded since the onset of the pandemic. With the surge in Covid-19-related deaths being reported across the country, public scepticism seems to be on the rise. The UK variant of the virus that was detected around the island recently is spreading faster and has proven to be more lethal than its counterparts. In this light, expediting the vaccination process to curb the further spread of the virus has been the main focus of health officials as well as the Government. Although the vaccination programme had initially begun on a high note, discrepancies in administering the vaccines have been reported from across the country over the past few weeks. A significant number of citizens are still awaiting the second jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, but to no avail. Long queues and chaos ensued in multiple places where vaccines were being administered, due to which public faith in the authorities is seemingly wavering. Over 3,500 new cases were reported on Wednesday (19) in Sri Lanka. Against that backdrop, State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle reiterated that there is a possibility the actual number of infections could be three times the reported amount. She went on to say that following Covid health guidelines at this point is an absolute necessity if we are to overcome the situation at present. Further highlighting that the cases that go unreported may cause a surge in the number of infections, as it would aid in the spread of the virus amongst communities even more, Dr. Fernandopulle urged the public to remain at home, unless it was necessary to step out. Meanwhile, while procuring the required vaccines has become a herculean task, according to Ministry of Health Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samraweera, Sri Lanka still has a shortage of 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines for the second jab. Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Dr. Samaraweera said: “The authorities are putting in a huge effort to secure the vaccines, but we have a shortage of 600,000 doses at present.”  According to Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Samantha Ananda, if Sri Lanka is to control the spread of the virus, at least 60% of the country’s population must be vaccinated. However, if the vaccination programme is not implemented methodically, it would ultimately lead to a larger predicament in the future. “Around 900,000 people had been given the AstraZeneca first jab. Only 350,000 doses are available for the second jab, which is being administered to Covid frontliners as of now. It is not yet available to the general public,” Dr. Ananda said. He mentioned two aspects that need to be taken into consideration with regard to the vaccination process: Prevention of the spread of the virus and reducing mortality rates. He said that based on these two factors, the country must prioritise what its focus is according to the situation. “Whether we should be looking at reducing the mortality rate or containing the spread of the virus can only be determined through scientific data, or else the vaccination programme would be haphazard, which is exactly what has happened in this situation,” Dr. Ananda added.  According to Dr. Ananda, there seem to be certain discrepancies and a lack of clarity in the vaccination process that has led to confusion amongst the general public. “The public has not been educated on the vaccination process as much as they should have been. Due to this reason, both people on the priority list as well as those who aren’t considered to be on the priority list are being vaccinated left, right, and centre. It has come to a point where even the healthcare sector is not fully aware of where vaccination drives are taking place,” he stressed.   [caption id="attachment_137705" align="alignright" width="781"] People standing in line in front of the Kirulapone Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office earlier this month for the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine                        PHOTO KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM[/caption] According to Ministry of Health Secretary Dr. S.H. Munasinghe, bookings can be made for vaccination through the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) website. While this process allows those aged 60 and above to get the vaccination without a hassle, as a prior appointment would be made, residents who are out of Colombo city limits (Colombo 1-15) or below the age limit would not be allowed on vaccination sites. However, as per the CMC website, this service has been temporarily halted. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Dr. Munasinghe said: “The CMC has a programme where appointments are being given virtually. Anybody who has a phone can request an appointment. The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has also made an app through which appointments can be made over the phone. “In the next vaccination rollout, this method would be used. It isn’t necessarily e-channelling, but this is an app that has been developed by ICTA in order for the public to book an appointment for the vaccination. This process would reduce the hassle we are witnessing right now.” Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka (PHIs’ Union) President Upul Rohana, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said: “With the demand, the existing vaccine stocks simply do not suffice. There is a set of people who are still waiting for the second jab of AstraZeneca, and the public has many questions in this regard. Eight weeks have already passed since the first jab, and the window of coverage the vaccine offers is quickly going by. As of now, national vaccination drives are only being conducted in the Colombo, Kalutara, and Gampaha Districts (Western Province), given that these are the areas that are most susceptible at the moment. Rohana said that they have also been receiving queries from people about when the vaccination drives would be expanded. “I feel there needs to be a proper plan set in place in this regard. Apart from that, we have no other issues. We can administer the vaccines as long as we are given the stocks. We have the necessary human resources to do so as well. The issue, however, lies with the supply chain,” he pointed out.   Further reiterating that procuring vaccines has been a struggle on its own, Dr. Ananda went on to say Sri Lanka cannot and should not depend on vaccines alone if we are to overcome the present situation. Meanwhile, according to State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka had confirmed that another 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine would be donated, which are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka in the coming week. In addition to that, it was revealed that the Government of Sri Lanka has placed an order for 14 million doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, of which three million doses would arrive in the country by June 2021.   Main Image by Lalith Perera  

Progress in securing second AstraZeneca vaccines

[caption id="attachment_118422" align="alignright" width="416"] Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle[/caption]   According to State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana, discussions are underway between the Sri Lankan Government and various other countries to secure 600,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine required for the second jab. He mentioned that the Government is taking the necessary measures to procure the required vaccines as soon as possible. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle stated: “We are trying our best to secure the vaccines; we have contacted different countries and we are in the process of contacting other countries in this regard as well. We have approached countries like Norway, France, and the UK so far.” Attempts by The Sunday Morning to reach Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga proved futile.  


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