Jabs recommended by WHO accepted the world over: DDHS

The Foreign Ministry had informed the Ministry of Health that no foreign governments had informed it of preference for any particular brand of vaccine to enter those countries, Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath told the media yesterday.

“The Foreign Ministry and several other institutions have informed us that there is no such requirement. Any vaccine approved by the WHO is accepted by all the countries in the world,” he said.

Dr. Herath added that if someone who needed to go abroad has been mandated to have a particular vaccine such persons could appeal to the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) with the necessary documents.

“If someone is required to be inoculated with a particular vaccine, we will consider his or herrequest,” he said.

Dr. Hearth added that the Minister of Health had sought additional funds for pandemic control. “For example, if experts recommend that a booster shot is needed, we have to administer a third dose. So, the additional money is to be ready for such a contingency,” he said.

The Deputy Director General of Health Services also commented on accusations that the government had allowed bars to operate while bookshops were closed during the literary month. He said that he couldn’t comment on the opening of bars because there was a lawsuit on the matter.

“With regards to book shops and book exhibitions, books are handled by a number of people that come into a shop or an exhibition. Thus, there is a theoretical possibility that the virus can be transmitted from a person who touches a book that has the virus on its surface,” he said.