Attempt to sabotage army jab drive

Saturday 7th August, 2021

A sinister campaign is reportedly underway to sabotage the army’s successful vaccination drive, which has so far benefited hundreds of thousands of people. Having been called in to assist health workers in carrying out the inoculation campaign, the armed forces have gone above and beyond the call of duty. They have helped accelerate the jab drive so much so that the country has received praise from the World Health Organisation. One cannot but doff one’s hat to them for their commendable service.

But some health bigwigs do not seem well disposed towards the army’s involvement in the jab drive; they throw a monkey wrench in the works whenever they get a chance to do so—in typical Sri Lankan style. All health workers, especially doctors and nurses, have blotted their copybooks badly by resorting to trade union action, demanding pay hikes and special allowances, amidst the worst ever health crisis, which has rendered the economy dependent on high-flow oxygen, as it were. Overshadowed by the security forces, some health officials are apparently piqued and livid.

When the military was tasked with carrying out vaccination, some health sector trade unions demanded to know whether the armed forces personnel were equal to the task, which they said was highly specialised and could not be performed by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. The medical corps of the armed forces proved their critics wrong, earned public praise, and effectively put paid to the attempts being made in some quarters to monopolise the vaccination campaign. They helped simplify and accelerate the vaccination process, and made it people-friendly by working round the clock.

Sadly, thousands of people who arrived at the army-run vaccination centre, at the Viharamahadevi Park, on Thursday, to receive the Sinopharm vaccine were disappointed. They were turned away as the vaccine stocks had not been delivered. The army was at the receiving end of public ire for no fault of its. A defence official, we contacted for comment, complained of a conspiracy to derail the army’s jab programme and bring the armed forces into disrepute. A similar situation arose recently at the Diyatha Uyana vaccination centre run by the army. The health authorities disrupted the jab supply to that place much to the inconvenience of the public. The government did not care to conduct a probe although complaints were made.

We recently revealed that the Health Ministry had been dragging its feet on a proposal made by the army that a scheme be introduced for the Sri Lankans leaving for foreign employment to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines recommended by the host countries concerned. It was only after an inordinate delay that the army was given the go-ahead.

Ideally, civilian tasks should not be entrusted to the military. But the security forces have had to be called in to perform civilian duties owing to the inefficiency of the public sector. They have even undertaken tasks that the local government authorities have to perform, such as the cleaning of canals.

Let the government be urged to look into the unfortunate vaccine shortage at the Viharamahadevi Park, on Thursday, and bring the health officials concerned to book. Having called in the armed forces—and rightly so—to administer vaccines, it should not allow some bad eggs in the health sector to tarnish the image of the military and inconvenience the public.