Pregnant mothers to get only Sinopharm jab: Health Ministry

The Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases of the Health Ministry has recommended that pregnant women should only be vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told the Daily Mirror.

He said since there are no sufficient data on other vaccines, the Committee had recommended only the Sinopharm vaccines will be given to pregnant mothers.

Though Army Commander announced that the pregnant woman would be given priority when giving Sinopharm vaccine in relevant areas, Dr. Herath said there are certain practical issues in giving vaccine to the pregnant women.

"The Family Health Bureau is in the process of sorting them out. There are certain checks and balances that need to be included to the circular that is to be issued soon in this regard" he said.

"As it is a very complicated process, the Family Health Bureau is still developing the guidelines,” Dr. Herath underlined.

He stressed that vaccinating pregnant mothers has not yet commenced, and added it would take some time to finalise the relevant guidelines and only after that the vaccination could be started.

Moreover, he said he had received several reports that some pregnant mothers have got the vaccines without proper approval from the Health Ministry.

The attention to vaccinate pregnant mothers has been drawn as they come under one of the high risk categories.

Against this backdrop, Army Commander Shavendra Silva today announced that they would give priority to the pregnant women, and those above 60 years of age when giving Sinopharm vaccines in the areas announced earlier from June 8. (Sheain Fernandopulle)