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Under 30s vaccination from mid-September

23 Aug 2021

  • 3.2 million people between 18 and 30 
  • To begin soon after 100% of above 30s fully vaccinated 
BY Pamodi Waravita  The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health yesterday (22) stated that the vaccination of those between the ages of 18 and 30 years against Covid-19 will commence around mid-September, as the health authorities hope to fully vaccinate almost 100% of those above the age of 30 years by the first week of September.  Speaking to the media yesterday, Acting Chief of the Epidemiology Unit Dr. Samitha Ginige stated that the population between the ages of 18 and 30 years amounts to about 3.2 million people.  “Sri Lanka has about 11.5 million people who are over the age of 30 years. This means that about 23 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine are needed to fully inoculate the entire population in that category. We have so far received 19.5 million doses to the country, so by September we hope to fully vaccinate the entire population over the age of 30 years,” said Dr. Ginige.  According to Dr. Ginige, 48% of the entire population over the age of 30 years has to date been fully vaccinated with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and nearly 100% of the population over the age of 30 years has been partially vaccinated.  “This means that 55% of the country’s total population is partially vaccinated and 25% or a quarter of the total population is fully vaccinated. It is generally accepted that if 70% of the total population of a country is fully vaccinated, the virus can be brought under a certain amount of control.”  This is consistent with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s projections which he announced in his address to the nation on Friday (20). The President stated that about 98% of the people who are above the age of 30 had been vaccinated up to that date while 43% had been administered both doses.  “By 31 August, more than 81% of the population will be able to receive the second dose. By 10 September, 100% can receive both the doses,” he said.  Meanwhile, Dr. Ginige also stated that a challenge the Epidemiology Unit is facing is that some part of the population over the age of 60 years is still not vaccinated, despite MOH offices operating vaccination centres around the country targeting seniors.  “Our main aim of the vaccination programme is to reduce deaths. Those over the age of 60 years face more complications from the virus. 77% of the total deaths that have occurred so far are over the age of 60 years. This is why we urge seniors to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” stressed Dr. Ginige.  The WHO has stated that the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of the Covid-19 virus is at least two times as transmissible as the original virus. Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe spread of the Delta variant in all districts. The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) said that 3,844 new cases and 198 new deaths were reported on 21 August due to the virus.


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