Govt. awaits submission of experts’ committee report

Government awaits the submission of the experts’ committee report to decide on the modalities of using any vaccine approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Sri Lanka, an official said yesterday.

Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane told Daily Mirror any decision on the use of any vaccine would be taken only in conformity with the national immunisation policy and the laws and regulations governing it.

He said an experts’ committee had been appointed to look into it.

“We are awaiting the report,” he said.

He said the WHO had agreed to fulfill 20 percent of the vaccine requirement free of charge and the committee would identify the prioritised groups to be vaccinated against the virus.

Commenting on the present status of the pandemic, he said the average caseload was decreasing despite a spike on Tuesday due to the high number of positive cases reported from among the prisoners.

“In another two weeks’ time, we will be able to see progress,” he said. (KELUM BANDARA)