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Pfizer may be harmful; import other vaccines: Prof. Tissa Vitharana

19 November 2021 06:50 pm - 23     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Virology expert Parliamentarian Prof. Tissa Vitharana today requested the Government to reduce importing Pfizer vaccine and focus more on other vaccines saying that Pfizer vaccine could be harmful to people.

He told Parliament that Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine was a messenger RNA vaccine and that no one could predict how it would react after a gene was injected directly into the human body.

He said RNA has been used in vaccines to inject humans for the first time and added that he, as a medical officer, had doubts about the Pfizer vaccine.

"I have a doubt about Pfizer scientifically. It is a new vaccine variety. It is a RNA vaccine. Vaccines produced using RNA have been used for the first time for humans to treat Covid-19. No one can predict how it would react when a gene is directly injected into the human body. It might cause harmful after effects. I am not saying such things will happen. There is a possibility," he said and added that therefore, he was requesting the authorities to use other alternative vaccines.

He said there were vaccines produced under normal methodology using completely inactivated virus such as Sinopharm.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)


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  Comments - 23

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  • Martin Milton Friday, 19 November 2021 06:47 PM

    Hope the GoSL will listen or will they go on their ill advised course as with other decisions? MM

    CHOLMONDELEY PINTO Friday, 19 November 2021 07:54 PM

    Someone has to make decisions Place orders months ahead and stick to it. Thre will be professors who will always wish for the opposite of what you do. First the Chinese vaccines are bad now the leading American vaccines are not good and if we are to please all we need to get vaccines from Mars.

    Gnana Friday, 19 November 2021 06:50 PM

    Dear Professor You need to speak based on evidence published with peer review. Not comments. You might damage image of other srilankan great academics and professors who we have greate respect. Regards

    Roisin Friday, 19 November 2021 07:45 PM

    Alternative vaccines? You mean Sinopharm, right? You can stick your scientifically doubts where the sun don't shine.

    Dr Asif Friday, 19 November 2021 07:50 PM

    Well said professor!

    Maya Friday, 19 November 2021 07:50 PM

    Please check your mental. All world accepts the PFIZER. what’s wrong with you?? Any commission from other product ?

    Jaffna Logic Friday, 19 November 2021 08:02 PM

    This is the problem, we don’t have proper experts to advice. All of them are Doctors and None of them are Scientists. Professor titles don’t make Doctors into Scientists. Look at at the WHO, who are the Covid experts , all are just Doctors with Professor and other impressive titles.

    Tony Andrady Friday, 19 November 2021 08:06 PM

    Before speaking on technical matters this 'expert' Vitharana must at the very least read the scientific literature!

    Jeewan Friday, 19 November 2021 08:07 PM

    I came across a news item today which says FDA in America had seek an injunction from Court to Seal all the evidence pertaining to adverse side effects caused by vaccines in general and Pfizer vaccine in particular for a period of 55 Years.There can be some truth to What Prof.Tissa says

    sunil Friday, 19 November 2021 08:09 PM

    Dear Professor, Are you recommending Sinopharm because it is from a Communist country and you are against vaccines from western capitalist countries. Please give facts, figures, logic, analytical arguments etc to substantiate your concerns and we will then accept them if they are logical

    Rani Friday, 19 November 2021 08:09 PM

    RIGHT ! And you are ? Don't buy take it send it to some of the other poor countries. They will gladly take it. Nut case.

    Periera Friday, 19 November 2021 08:11 PM

    This is total untrue. Pfizer is the most safest one used in US and UK by majority. Looks like professor parliamentarian is supporting the 10% gang to get more Sinopharm from dodgy China.

    Thanuja Philip Friday, 19 November 2021 08:14 PM

    In USA majority of the population received Pfizer and I was one of those. It is considered one of the best vaccine available in the world. I received all three doses including the booster dose. So far things have been fine. Not sure where this gentleman has got his information from. Pfizer should look into it and take this gentleman to courts if his statements are politically motivated.

    Frantisek Klapal Friday, 19 November 2021 08:28 PM

    Fully vaccinated with Pfizer as all my extended family and especially siste-in-law and brother-in-law who are scientists because they know how this work and there is no harm as your DNA (RNA part of it) changes all the time.Vaccine is new but has been tested for nearly 20 years since SARS in 2001

    Chen Long Friday, 19 November 2021 08:52 PM

    He is unnecessarily getting into a soup by biassed statements.

    Francis Saturday, 20 November 2021 09:34 AM

    I lost the respect I had for him as it’s very clear that he advocating for Sinopharm for something in return. Hope he will not go to the extent of saying the the Chinese fertilizer is also good and should be accepted by SL

    Mohan Saturday, 20 November 2021 09:40 AM

    The professor seems to be more knowledgeable than the WHO experts. LOL!

    Philip de silva Saturday, 20 November 2021 01:24 PM

    Aiyo uncle please don’t spread another panic amount people

    Neo Saturday, 20 November 2021 05:03 PM

    Sinopharm is apparently not posh enough for our 20-30 age group so how can we vaccinate them forcefully?

    Jiff Saturday, 20 November 2021 05:04 PM

    This is a calculated tactic. One group will create fear on sinopharm and another group will create fear on RNA vaccines hoping for another covid wave and a total collapse of the economy

    NIHAL PRASANNA JAYAWICKRAMA Sunday, 21 November 2021 11:28 AM

    Now I understand why we have been a poor nation for so long, because we have this kind of educated people. There is something wrong with the way we think. We need to send at lease some students starts from O/L to study abroad and get them back to serve country. This is the only way to change the way we think.

    Jef Sunday, 21 November 2021 04:22 PM

    It's a tough one you can't change a leach to sleep on bed....

    Jerome Monday, 22 November 2021 09:00 AM

    Commission's are the decisive factor, can't be bothered about what's good.


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