brand logo

Pfizer 3rd dose recommended for all above 20

07 Oct 2021

By Buddhika Samaraweera  The Health Ministry has announced that the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) has made a preliminary recommendation to administer a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines to all those over the age of 20 years using the US-German-made Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Speaking to The Morning, Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General (DDG), and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said that although the ACCD has given a preliminary recommendation with regard to the provision of a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines to those over 20 years, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena should issue written guidelines and circulars in this regard. “When considering this matter, we are talking about a large number of people. Therefore, it is important to vaccinate the most vulnerable groups first and systematically move onto other groups according to the vaccines that would be received. We have to be patient until the necessary guidelines in this regard are issued in writing,” he noted. Dr. Herath also said that the necessary vaccines should be procured to implement this recommendation and that the necessary steps in this regard are being taken by the relevant institutions including the Health Ministry. “At the moment, this is a recommendation made in principle, so that if those over 20 years come tomorrow and ask for a third dose, it will not be possible to give such, but the necessary steps are being taken,” he added. The Morning recently reported that Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry Secretary Dr. R.M.S.K. Rathnayake has placed an order for the purchase of 14 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Following the ACCD’s recommendation to provide a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines, the Health Ministry recently confirmed that out of those who received the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, those over 60 years of age, and those below 60 years who suffer from comorbidities, will be given a third dose at the initial stage.


More News..