PM says global Covid vaccines cannot be used in SL sans WHO go-ahead

by Norman Palihawadana

Sri Lanka will be able to administer vaccines now being rolled out in other countries to treat covid-19 patients only on the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

“There is a clamor in some quarters to procure these global vaccines but WHO approval and certification are mandatory to use the products in our country”, the premier told The Sunday Island.

He said that those who are vociferous that the government should access these vaccines should understand that this cannot be done sans the WHO’s stamp of approval on 100% safety and efficacy on their use on Sri Lankan coronavirus patients.

Adherence to health safety guidelines is the answer to prevent the further transmission of the virus, Rajapaksa stressed. “Unfortunately, some people are still not taking the threat seriously as they tend to ignore preventive measures”.

What’s imperative at this juncture is not to sit back and criticize ongoing efforts but to cooperate with public health officials, police and the army to curb the threat and restore normalcy in the country, the Prime Minister underscored.