All those above the age of 20 should get all three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine before they visit their elderly parents for the New Year. They should take it promptly as it takes 14 days to develop immunity. It will help protect their parents who are vulnerable, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige said.
He told a press briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau in Colombo a few days ago that unvaccinated people could bring the coronavirus home with the New Year gifts and endanger the lives of their elderly parents and other relatives are at risk as they are old, suffer from various Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and in the high risk category. There are 14.4 million people in Sri Lanka over the age of 20, but only 7.7 million (52 percent) had obtained the booster dose (Pfizer).
This means that 48 percent had not taken the booster yet. Around 80 to 85 percent of Covid-19 deaths are among people over 60 but only 63 percent of them (1.7 million out of 2.7 million) had taken the booster dose up to now.
This means that 37 percent of those over 60 had not taken the booster dose as yet, he said.
Last week 41 Covid-19 deaths were reported from Sri Lanka and 15 (37 percent) of them had not taken even one dose of vaccine while another six had taken only one dose of the vaccine. The number of people who died after obtaining two doses was 16, he said.
The immunity declines after three months of taking the second dose and it rapidly decreases in aged people and those who suffer from NCDs.
Therefore, it is a must to get all three doses as soon as possible and follow all health guidelines. People should strictly adhere to all health guidelines during this festive season, he added.