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Reluctant parents urged to get kids vaccinated

13 Jan 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Health experts have urged parents to refer their children for vaccination against Covid-19 without fear as there is ample data on the effectiveness and side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau yesterday (13), Senior Professor in Paediatrics Prof. Pujitha Wickramasinghe said: “Hundreds of thousands of Covid-19 vaccines have been given so far, but serious side effects have not been reported, so it is unclear why parents are reluctant to vaccinate their children. We therefore urge parents to refer their children for Covid-19 vaccination.” Noting that the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Sri Lanka began after the vaccination commenced in many parts of the world, he said that Sri Lankan health experts are therefore aware of the effectiveness and side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines. “In Sri Lanka, the Covid-19 vaccination commenced after many other countries started it. Therefore, we have ample understanding on the side effects and effectiveness of the vaccines. After considering all such matters only it was recommended that children be given the Covid-19 vaccines,” he said. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has decided to administer the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 16 and 19 years who have completed three months since they received the first dose, from tomorrow (15). Speaking to The Morning on 10 December 2021, 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 a Covid-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 16 and 19 years was started on 15 October 2021 and that the second dose would be administered from tomorrow. He added 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. Furthermore, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith early this week told the media: “The prevalence of Covid-19 disease is low among children and the majority of child fatalities due to the infection were that of those who suffered from complications. However, children who do not have complications can also develop pneumonia following the Covid-19 infection. It is therefore important for all eligible children to be vaccinated.” 


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