Single jab of Sputnik V vaccine is a political decision: Kiriella

4 June 2021 08:42 am

• The second dose had to be given within 23 days after the first vaccine to get best results
• It is the government which has to accept responsibility if something goes wrong with the vaccines

By Yohan Perera  

Medical experts have not confirmed that single dose of Sputnik V COVID- 19 vaccine is sufficient at any time and therefore it is merely a political decision to provide only one dose to the people in Kandy, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday. 

Mr. Kiriella said in a statement that he had studied about the Sputnik V vaccine and what had been recommended was that the second dose had to be given within 23 days after the first vaccine to get best results. “It is in this backdrop where political leadership in Kandy have got the people to sign a document saying they will be satisfied with a single dose and they themselves will be responsible if they suffer from any ailment. Therefore it is unfair to put the responsibility on the people. It is the government which has to accept responsibility if something goes wrong with the vaccines,” he said.  

“ The notion that a single dose of Sputnik V is sufficient is merely a political statement as medical experts had not come up with such a statement,” he added.