SLMA President calls for vaccination of everyone above 60 to meet emerging threat

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Everyone over 60 should be vaccinated to prepare the country to face the Omicron COVID variant and/or a potential new wave during the coming festive season, President, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Dr. Padma Gunaratne says.

She has said that a lot of attention has been paid to determining whether Omicron has entered Sri Lanka. However, everyone should not forget that the Delta variant that dominated infections here is still a major threat and that there could be a spike in cases after the festive season, she says.

“People have let their guard down. They are going shopping. They are gathering in large numbers. Physical distancing is ignored. The festive season is coming up and we may see a spike in cases,” she said.

Dr. Gunaratne added that those who were above 60, if they had been double jabbed, needed to take the booster shot. If a person over 60 was not vaccinated he or she should get vaccinated, she said.

“We already see a small increase in pandemic deaths. We must focus on getting everyone vaccinated. Things aren’t looking good and a new wave is coming. So, I urge everyone to get vaccinated,” she said.

Commenting on Sri Lanka’s preparation to face the Omicron variant, Dr. Gunaratne said that Sri Lanka had already taken several steps, including banning travellers from a number of countries.

“We can’t close our borders because there is a threat. We have to think of the economy, too. We must try to delay the arrival of the variant and use the coming weeks to vaccinate people and prepare the health system for a new spike,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nadeeka Janage, a Consultant Medical Virologist, attached to the Medical Research Institute, (MRI), said that new variants could occur in countries where vaccination was low.

“New variants can often happen in areas where vaccination is low and when people with low immunity are infected. In the case of those with low immunity, the virus stays in the body for a long time and it can change. The way people behave in society, too, plays a role. If people are not careful, the virus spreads in the community and thus increases the chance of mutation,” he said.