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3rd dose decision in the coming days

18 Aug 2021

  • Health expert evaluation underway
  • GMOA calls for booster dose for frontliners
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The provision of a booster shot or third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine is currently being evaluated by the experts and a final decision in this regard is to be taken by the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) in the coming days, according to the Health Ministry. When contacted by The Morning to inquire into any plans to provide a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines, the Health Ministry’s Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday (18) said that the Health Ministry has received proposals in this regard from time to time. “A continuous evaluation is currently underway by the experts. A final decision with regard to the provision of a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines would be taken by the ACCD in the coming days.” Against the backdrop of the rapidly increasing number of daily Covid-19 infections and related deaths, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) requested that healthcare workers be provided a booster shot or third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The GMOA claimed that the biggest threat the country would face towards the end of this year would be the risk of a new and severe strain of the virus, which could surpass the immunity created by the ongoing vaccination drive. The GMOA, on 29 July, had informed the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena that all healthcare staff and other frontline workers needed a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccines. Adding that a significant number of health staff, including doctors, have tested positive for Covid-19, the GMOA had stated in a letter to the DGHS that when analysing the global trends, it is observed that certain countries have arrived at policy decisions to provide health staff and other frontline workers with a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccines. However, World Health Organisation (WHO) Head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 14 August called for a moratorium on booster shots. “Countries with high vaccine coverage are seeing a decoupling of Covid-19 cases and deaths, whereas countries that cannot access vaccines are seeing high numbers of cases, driving steep increases in deaths. No one is safe until everyone is safe, and that is why we need a moratorium on boosters,” he explained.


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