• 96% of 30-plus group to be fully vaccinated by end-Aug.  

 

• Below 30 category accounts for 30% of admissions

• 1906 hotline for 60-plus registration

  BY Pamodi Waravita The health authorities yesterday (9) announced that the Covid-19 vaccination for those below the age of 30 years will commence from mid-August, adding that 96% of the total population above the age of 30 years will be fully vaccinated by the end of August. “Within this month, based on the vaccines we receive, we will be able to vaccinate those below the age of 30 years. Some young people in the garment industry have already received Covid-19 vaccines. By mid-August, we will be able to start giving the first dose for those below the age of 30 years. From the total hospital admissions of those infected with the virus, only 30% have been below the age of 30 years. However, deaths among those below the age of 30 years are very rare, as are complications,” State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena told the media yesterday. Meanwhile, Dr. Gunasena said that 96% of the total population above the age of 30 years has so far been vaccinated with one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 25% of the same category has received the second dose as well.  “A total of 96% of the entire population above the age of 30 years will be fully vaccinated (two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine) by the end of August,” assured Dr. Gunasena.   Commenting on the procurement of vaccines, Dr. Gunasena said that 15,000 second doses of the Sputnik V vaccine will reach the country this week. A total of 144,565 people who have received the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine are still awaiting their second dose. Unlike the other Covid-19 vaccines, the Sputnik V vaccine’s first and second doses differ in their compositions.   “Every week, we also expect 100,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. By December, we hope to have received a total of 18 million doses of it. Furthermore, 10 million more doses of the Sinopharm vaccine will also come into the country by September,” added Dr. Gunasena. Dr. Gunasena urged the public to get vaccinated with the vaccines available in their area, adding that the 1906 hotline has been introduced for people above the age of 60 years to register for inoculation during this week. He further explained that the country will be ready to provide a third dose if necessary, noting however that it is not a priority at the moment as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not stated the need for one as of yet. “The WHO is not prioritising a third dose at this point. However, clinical trials are being conducted in some countries on those succumbing to the virus even after a second dose. The WHO currently anticipates that only 40% of the world population will be fully vaccinated by December this year while 70% of the world population will be fully vaccinated by July 2022. If a third dose is needed, accordingly, we will be ready at the time,” explained Dr. Gunasena. He also cautioned that since it takes two weeks after the second dose of a vaccine for the recipient to gain maximum protection against the virus, it is best advised that the public continue to follow strict health guidelines, even if fully vaccinated, until at least mid-September. Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe spread of the highly transmissible Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of the Covid-19 virus. A total of 2,956 new cases and 94 deaths were recorded on 8 August due to the virus.