Booster doses from today

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Booster doses of the COVID vaccine would be given six months after the administration of the second dose, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, said yesterday, addressing the media. He added that the booster shots would be given to people from today.

Dr. Gunawardena added that 62.5% of the total population had already been double-jabbed.

“We are vaccinating them with Pfizer. We will give the booster to frontline health workers, security forces,  those who work in ports and airport, those involved in tourism, those who are over 60, those between 30 and 60 with comorbidities and then to all above 20,” he said.

Dr. Gunawardena urged everyone in the eligible age categories to get fully inoculated as soon as possible because the longer they delay their vaccination, the longer they will have to wait for the Pfizer booster shot.

Sri Lanka was currently purchasing the vaccines that were needed to give booster shots to its citizens, Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath said.