Keheliya says Pfizer booster a must to be categorised as fully vaccinated

Second dose for 16-19 age group can be received countrywide on Jan 29

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says in spite of Sri Lanka handling the first two phases of the Covid-19 vaccination drive quite well, the country was not out of the woods yet due to the poor public response to the Pfizer-BioNTech booster.

Continuing public apathy could cause a setback to ongoing economic recovery efforts, Rambukwella asserts.

Flanked by colleagues, Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, lawmaker Rambukwella explained the difficulty in attracting the public to the booster, thereby the threat they posed, at a meeting with the media at the Health Ministry.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa brought in Rambukwella as the Health Minister last August, the first Cabinet reshuffle since the August 2020 parliamentary polls. The Kandy district MP succeeded Pavitra Wanniarachchi who received the transport portfolio.

Minister Rambukwella said that an overall review was required as Sri Lanka marked the first anniversary of the launch of the inoculation campaign on Saturday (January 29). Health Minister Rambukwella, Health Secretary Maj. Gen. Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe and Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena urged the public to take the booster without further delay or face the consequences. They said that the booster could be taken at over 1,000 hospitals and other centres next Saturday. The health administration urged the public to take advantage of the opportunity to join the fully vaccinated group. The appeal was made in the wake of a weeklong (January 11 to 17) countrywide campaign failing to attract adequate numbers to take the booster shot.

Minister Rambukwella accepted a suggestion that the booster be considered a third dose and those who had received them categorized as fully vaccinated. They agreed on the urgent need to pressure the public on the third dose against the backdrop of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam declaring Covid-19 vaccination couldn’t be made mandatory.

At the onset of the briefing, the former Media Minister recalled the daunting challenges faced by the current dispensation at the time of the Covid-19 eruption a few months after the last presidential election in Nov 2019. Acknowledging that the government had minimal capacity to meet such a challenging task, lawmaker Rambukwella said that the Opposition questioned whether the new administration could secure the support of the international community.

“We are in a comparatively comfortable situation today thanks to the vaccination rollout made possible by the international support,” Minister Rambukwella said. Underscoring the pivotal importance in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s role in securing vaccines amidst fierce competition among the countries, big and small, Sri Lanka was able to obtain 51 mn doses. “Now, 8 mn Pfizer doses remain for the third dose,”

Minister Rambukwella said whatever the lies propagated by interested parties the responsibility in going for the booster/third jab lay with the public.

The Minister said that 4.9 mn (30 percent) of those eligible for the vaccination had received the booster so far, whereas GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando also said on the same day only 22.47 percent had taken the booster.

Minister Rambukwella said that they observed a relatively lower number of 20-30 category having received the booster. Having failed to undermine the earlier phases of the inoculation drive, the social media seemed to have succeeded in their efforts, Minister Rambukwella said.

Referring to the increase in the number of reported cases and the challenge posed by Covid-19 variant, Omicron, Minister Rambukkwella explained the measures so far taken to counter the threat. According to him, depending on the requirement, home quarantine could be expanded.

The media was told the government decided to conduct religious ceremonies at vaccination centres on January 29 to invoke blessings on those who succumbed to Covid-19. Such activities will begin at the auspicious time 10.06 am and last less than one hour.

Minister Rambukwella said that the original plan was to conduct the main event at the Nelum Pokuna Theater.

Minister Rambukwella cited several instances of various interested parties interfering with the vaccination drive. Referring to an incident at a temple in Matale, the lawmaker said that he had no option but to obtain a court order against the chief incumbent of that temple and also request the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take necessary action.

The Minister said that once the top management of a leading garment manufacturer objected to workers being vaccinated as it could hamper the manufacturing process. What they basically said was that if workers reported sick after vaccination the company wouldn’t be able to meet specific deadlines, Minister Rambukwella said, questioning their responsibility at a time the country faced a grave threat.

The Island raised the delay in giving the second dose for the 16-19 year category which included those scheduled to sit for the GCE Advanced Level examination early February. Dr. Gunawardena responded that specific instructions had been issued in that regard whereas children 12-15 were being inoculated now. The Island pointed out that inquiries made regarding the second dose for 16-19 year category revealed that the process was yet to begin. The media was told that the Health Ministry would inquire into the complaint and arrangements would be made for them to receive the second dose at vaccination centres on January 29.

Minister Rambukwella speculated on the possibility of bankrupt political parties being responsible for the ongoing organized campaign against the booster. Perhaps some believed the situation could be exploited for political gain at the expense of the government and the national economy.

Minister Ranatunga emphasized the responsibility on the part of the media to clearly present facts. Failure to do so would cause damage, the Aviation Minister said. Aeroflot decided against resumption of flights to Colombo primarily on the basis of misleading media reports.