GMOA warns of new variant due to runaway spread of virus

Prof. Jayasumana says three new Delta variants identified

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka faced an immediate and serious threat of a new coronavirus variant that could undermine the vaccination process emerging, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said yesterday.

The GMOA issued the warning as State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana told Parliament yesterday (17) that three new variants of the Delta virus had been identified

GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando alleged that COVID had been allowed to spread and to circulate within the community and create a new variant.

“When the virus spreads uncontrollably the more it replicates, and a new variant can occur from a mutation. We have now been told that there are three new mutations here. This is a serious problem,” he said.

Dr. Fernando said that given the danger posed by this scenario, the government should consider giving a booster shot, first to frontline workers and then to members of the public.

“15 million doses are needed to give booster shots. If we are giving booster shots, we must identify a timeframe, the initial categories to be vaccinated and a methodology,” he said.

Dr. Fernando added that the government should immediately look at vaccinating those between the ages of 12 and 18. Vaccinating those of this age group was vital to commencing school academic activities, he said.

“We need to be scientific with our vaccination policy. Right now, there is nothing scientific about how we manage the vaccination,” he said.