Request made to vaccinate children above 12 with chronic diseases: Dr. Kithulwatte

The Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians has requested the authorities to take steps to provide Covid-19 vaccine to children above 12 years of age who have chronic diseases, a medical specialist said today.

Consultant in charge of the Intensive Care Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital Pediatrician Dr. Nalin Kithulwatta said that Covid vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna have been approved to be given to children above 12 years of age globally.

“Parents always ask us when their children could be vaccinated.  Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians has requested the authorities to vaccinate children above 12 and suffering from Chronic diseases,” he said.

He said more than 200 children were receiving treatment for Covid-19 and that the Hospital has reached its full capacity by now.

He told reporters that the maximum capacity in the Hospital to treat Covid infected children is 210.

He said the six ICU beds that have been allocated for Covid infected children were all full now.

“LRH has reached full capacity now. We cannot accommodate more children at present. This is a serious situation,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)