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Repeated requests for third dose for migrant workers 

15 Sep 2021

BY Pamodi Waravita  The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has made continuous requests to the Health Ministry to provide a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines to migrant workers, according to the SLBFE’s Acting General Manager M. Randeniya.  “We have continuously requested for a third dose from the Ministry of Health as per requests from our migrant workers,” Randeniya told The Morning yesterday (14). The SLBFE is also conducting a vaccination programme for migrant workers who are registered with the Bureau, with the aid of the Sri Lanka Army. According to Randeniya, 13,000 first doses and 8,000 second doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been given to date to those seeking employment abroad.  He added that the request for third doses for migrant workers to the Middle East (ME) and the Maldives continues as the SLBFE is seeing a steady flow of workers to these popular regions.  The Ministry of Health stated last week that when the need for a third dose arises, health workers who were prioritised during the first vaccination drive would be given it first. The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has recommended that people over 60 years who have been given two doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, and those with a weak immune system, be given a third dose with the Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines. The Association has also suggested that as there may be a waning of immunity with time, a booster dose of the same or from a different vaccine be given to people over 60 years, who had been given two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca at least six months after the second dose.  The Presidential Secretariat’s “Vaccination Dashboard” states that as of 12 September, 93% of the total population over the age of 30 years have been fully vaccinated (two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine), while 62% of the population between the ages of 20 and 30 years have received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.  Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe spread of the Delta (B.1.617.2) Covid-19 variant of Indian origin in all Districts. The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) said that 2,560 new cases and 135 deaths were reported on 13 September due to the virus.


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