Nearly 57,000 in WP to be inoculated today

The COVID-19 vaccine will be given to approximately 57,000 people in the Western Province today, acting Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said.

He said that 27,018 will be vaccinated in the Colombo District, 17,622 in Gampaha District and 11,710 in the Kalutara District.

Accordingly people in Kolonnawa, Gothatuwa, Moratuwa, Egoda Uyana and Hanwella areas in Colombo District and in Agalawatta, Bandaragama, Matugama, Panadura, Horana, Beruwala in the Kalutara District to be  inoculated.

In addition, those aged between 30 and 60 years in the  Grama Niladhari Divisions in Gampaha, Attanagalla, Negombo, Wattala, Minuwangoda, Ragama, Ja-Ela and Kelaniya in the Gampaha District will be vaccinated today.

“The Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine has been shown to provide about 70% protection within three weeks of receiving the first dose of the vaccine. Taking the second dose will further increase its effectiveness.

Initially it was said that the second dose should be given in about four weeks. However, according to reports, the interval between the two doses could be extended further, so we decided to give the second dose after 10 weeks," he said.