GMOA clams sidelining of preventive care system reduced expected results of vaccination drive

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government had sidelined the officials engaged in the Health Ministry’s preventive care system and therefore the vaccination drive had not yielded the desired results, Secretary of the GMOA, Dr. Senal Fernando said yesterday.

The GMOA also protested against the government’s decision to hand over the administration of Pfizer vaccine to the military.

Dr. Fernando said the GOMA had written to Health Minister Keheliya, Rambukwella urging him to carry out the vaccination programme through the preventive care system.

“We told him that an aggressive vaccination programme for those above 60 years must be carried out and an active surveillance and performance audit conducted. This should also be done as regards those suffering from NCDs and other vulnerable groups,” he said.

Vaccinating those between 30 and 60 should continue while giving priority to the above-mentioned groups, Dr. Fernando said, adding that the supply of vaccines to MOH offices and hospitals was not done in keeping with priorities that had led to problems.

“We asked the Minister to address this issue by appointing DDG PHS (I) Dr. S.M. Arnold as the focal point of vaccination. We also asked the Minister to stop all interference by various parties. Any views, opinions and suggestions should be directed to the national focal point Dr. Arnold DDG PHS (I) for tabling at the Subcommittee for Vaccination Strategy of the Epidemiology Unit. We also protested handing over the entire Pfizer Vaccination Programme to the Military,” Dr. Fernando said.