28 September 2021 12:40 pm
Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana contradicting State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle's views on vaccinating children above 12 years of age, said today that according to reports, vaccinating children against Covid-19 was more beneficial than its harmful aspects.
He told the Weekly Cabinet briefing that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended vaccinating children after considering the benefits it has on them when compared to a small number of children reported with myocarditis after vaccination.
Responding to a question, Minister Pathirana said that selected groups of children are being vaccinated in most of the countries in the world at present.
He said vaccination of children with comorbidities began in Sri Lanka on the recommendations of the WHO and the guidelines issued by the paediatricians in Sri Lanka.
He said the vaccination of children is taking place with the recommendation and close supervision of the paediatricians and that the vaccination was taking place only in hospitals.
State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said yesterday that scientific researches carried out globally have underlined that COVID-19 vaccines may pose greater threat on children above 12 than coronavirus itself. (Ajith Siriwardana)