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COVID-19 jabs can take weeks to work, continued vigilance vital says experts
ECONOMYNEXT – Vaccination against COVID-19 will help bring the death rate down and minimize severe disease but the jab can take weeks to be fully effective and vaccinated people can still spread the virus as asymptomatic carriers, a leading Sri Lankan microbiologist said.
Neelika Malavige, Professor in Microbiology at the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, in a Government Information Department interview urged vaccinated Sri Lankans to stick to health protocols such as masking and regular hand washing.
“No one gets immediate protection right after the jab. It takes about 21 days for the body to produce antibodies after the first dose of AstraZeneca (Covishield). One dose does not provide sufficient protection, which is why we give two,” Malavige said.
Sinopharm also provides considerable protection but only two weeks after the second jab, the professor said. Sri Lanka has decided to give the two doses of the Chinese vaccine four weeks apart.
“In the meantime, you can still get infected and infect others,” she warned.
Taking a new wave of COVID-19 in Singapore as an example, Malavige said vaccinated airport employees were found to have spread the highly transmissible Indian strain of the virus in the city state.
“Everyone at the airport had received the Pfizer jab, so even when they tested positive for COVID-19, they didn’t report severe symptoms. But they still got infected and, as asymptomatic patients, carried the virus into the wider Singaporean society,” she said.
Echoing Malavige, Director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital Dr Ananda Wijewickrama said the primary objective of vaccination is to prevent critical conditions and death.
“People who get the jab can still get infected, but they have a lower chance of developing critical symptoms. It is important to follow health guidelines because we can be vaccinated and still spread it,” he said.
A mutated variant that has only been detected in Sri Lanka suspected to have been mutated from the original COVID-19 virus. The virus has been mainly detected in the Batticaloa district and in the Western Province and was the dominant variant before identifying the UK variant.
According to health authorities, this virus has a lower transmissibility and mortality rate making most of the patients asymptomatic.
Director of Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura Dr Chandima Jeewandara told the privately owned ABC media network that all three vaccines have been proven to be effective against the variants present in the country.
“International research has indicated that the efficacy rate can be changed with these mutations. However, any vaccine that shows an efficacy rate more than 50 percent is considered to be a successful vaccine and all three vaccines are proved to have a higher efficacy rate at the moment,” Jeewandara said.
Jeewandara predicted that Sri Lanka’s ongoing wave of COVID-19, with over 2,500 cases reported a day, will likely be contained by August this year.
“The virus has not changed the way it’s infecting people,” he said.
Vaccination and strict adherence to health protocols will contribute chiefly to containing the spread.
“We should provide at least one type of vaccine to the community. If the vaccine is being given in your area get it immediately, Wear the mask, keep social distance and avoid any gatherings,” he said.
“The next moth is crucial to Sri Lanka. We expect this wave to be controlled by August,” he added.
Jeewandara said there is no guarantee the virus will disappear. Vaccination is the one strategy to take control of the situation, he added.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
