Those who have not obtained the vaccine against Covid-19 can obtain their first, second or the third dose from the MOH. They can obtain information on the vaccine, Covid-19 and any other health issue by dialling the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Hotline 1999, HPB Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa said.
He told a press briefing at the HPB in Colombo on Friday that those who did not receive the first dose of the vaccine can get it from their area MOH by providing their National Identity card to prove their age. The MOH will vaccinate them or direct them to the nearest vaccination centre.
So far 16,469 Covid-19 deaths have been reported from Sri Lanka and there are 53 Covid-19 patients in ICUs. Only 54 percent of the targeted group (those above 20) had obtained the booster dose (Pfizer), he said.
At present, the number of Covid-19 patients reported daily from Sri Lanka has decreased significantly and the number of Covid-19 deaths reported daily has dropped below ten. However, some countries still have a high number of daily cases and deaths. There is a possibility of new variants emerging. People’s enthusiasm to prevent the disease from spreading has faded, he said.
People should follow all health guidelines when they leave their homes,no matter whether they had obtained all three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or not. They should wear a standard mask properly covering their nose and mouth. They should wash their hands with soap and water often or use a standard hand sanitiser when soap and water are not available. They should keep at least a one-metre distance from one another whenever possible, he added.