brand logo

Health Ministry urges vaccines, masks as Covid rears head again

27 Jul 2022

  • Requests to follow guidelines including hand washing, social distancing   
  • 5 deaths and 119 infections reported Monday
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Ministry of Health has pointed out that it is important that the public obtain the Covid-19 vaccines on time, wear facemasks, and follow other Covid-19 related health guidelines, with Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena having confirmed 5 deaths and 119 infections of Covid-19 on Monday (25).  According to the Department of Government Information, the victims reported on Monday included three males and two females, above the age of 60. Speaking to the media yesterday (26), Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit Head Dr. Samitha Ginige said: “There has been a clear increase in the global Covid-19 situation in the last two months. A few new Covid-19 variants have also been reported in some countries and it is said that these variants can spread more quickly than the existing ones and cause serious complications.” He said that when there is an increase of the Covid-19 infections somewhere in the world, every country, as experienced before, may have to face a similar situation, adding that Sri Lanka needs to take the necessary steps for preventing such an increase of infections from causing severe damage. In the last few months, he said that Sri Lanka was able to maintain the daily number of Covid-19 infections between 10-15, and the number of deaths at a very low level. “Now, we have to face the challenge of maintaining the situation where we had only 10-15 Covid-19 cases and about one Covid-19 related death a day. However, there is an increase in the number of daily patients reported during the last 10 days. About 50-60 patients are reported these days and with the increase in the number of patients, there is a possibility of an increase in deaths as well,” added Dr. Ginige. Accordingly, he said that Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena has strongly recommended for the public to wear face masks while using public transport services, being in public places and engaging in other domestic gatherings. He said that in addition to the Covid-19 vaccines, the health guidelines such as wearing facemasks, washing hands, and maintaining social distance are of great help in controlling the Covid-19 spread. He explained: “There was a systematic decline in the people's adherence to health guidelines with the decrease of the pandemic situation, but we must follow them. It prevents not only Covid-19, but also many other diseases. Also, the vaccination against Covid-19 should be done according to the recommended instructions. We have experienced good results from vaccination. For instance, when the Omicron Covid-19 variant was spreading, there were an unbearable number of infections even in developed countries. However, Sri Lanka did not have to face such a situation as many people had been vaccinated by then.” Noting that it has been over a year since the administration of the first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccines, Dr. Ginige said that the immunity achieved from those decreases with time. He said that the immunity against Covid-19 in those who obtained only the first and second doses is now reduced. Therefore, he said that it is important for those who obtained only the first and second doses of the vaccines to obtain the third dose as there is a risk that they would contract the disease, get hospitalised, and die if another wave emerges. “There are 14.4 million people over the age of 20 years who should have obtained the third Covid-19 vaccine dose, but only eight million have obtained it. Given this situation, they will be at greater risk if there is a spread of Covid-19 again. Therefore, they should obtain the third dose as soon as possible. Furthermore, after studying the recommendations of developed countries, we recommended the fourth vaccine dose, especially for those over 60 years of age and those with chronic diseases. In addition to them, anyone above the age of 20 years can obtain it from hospitals and Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices islandwide,” he added. Speaking further, he said that two Covid-19 vaccine doses have been recommended for children aged 12-19 years. However, with the prevailing situation, he said that schools have been closed from time to time and that therefore, some children have not yet obtained the said two vaccine doses. Dr. Ginige added that children in the said age category who have not yet received the vaccines can obtain them from the nearest hospital or the MOH office. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry recently decided to extend the expiry date of a stock of US-German-made Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines belonging to four batches and due to expire on 31 July, by three months. The decision to extend the expiry date of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines belonging to four batches, due to expire on 31 July, until 31 October has been communicated by Dr. Gunawardena to the Deputy Directors General of the Colombo and Kandy General Hospitals, the Provincial and Regional Directors of Health Services, the Directors and Superintendents of Provincial General, District General, and Base Hospitals, and the Directors of Public Health Programmes in a circular dated 22 July.  The circular read: “As per a communication by the Director of the Regulation and Prequalification Department of the World Health Organisation to the Director of the Supply Division of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, the recommendation on the shelf life of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been extended from nine to 12 months for unopened vials stored at temperatures between below 90°C and 60°C.” As of Monday (25), the total number of Covid-19 related cases confirmed in the country was 665,094 and the death toll stood at 16,544.     


More News..