Third dose for Kuwait-bound Lankan workers: SLFEB

Steps will be taken in the future to provide one dose of another vaccine approved by the Kuwaiti government as the third dose for the Sri Lankan workers who will be travelling to Kuwait for employment, the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) said. 

The Kuwaiti government had approved only Pfizer, Moderna, Covishield, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines, SLFEB Deputy General Manager Mangala Randeniya said.

This issue has been brought to the attention of the Health Services Director General, who said it will be handed over to the expert committee for an immediate solution, he said. 

Accordingly, the Sri Lankan workers who had already received both the doses and intend to go to work in Kuwait will be provided with Pfizer vaccine as the third dose, he said.

Mr. Randeniya requested the people who intend to leave for foreign employment to adhere in accordance with the prescribed health procedures provided for them, and it is very important.

He also mentioned that people who are waiting to go abroad for employment should leave the country only 14 days after receiving the second dose of the vaccine. 

"If they leave the country before completing their 14 days, they have to undergo a quarantine spell in the country they will be embarking to at their own expenses. In view to prevent that, they should leave the country 14 days after receiving the second dose," Mr. Randeniya added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)