Public urged to take the booster dose To keep the viral infection at bay

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

Government spokesman, Mass Media Minister Dulles Alahapperuma made a fervent appeal to the public to ensure that they get the first and second jabs and finally the booster to keep the viral infection at bay and added there was no first class or second class vaccines to control COVID-19 infection. 

‘Don’t categories vaccines under a feudal criteria as low caste vaccines and high caste vaccines. There are no such vaccines as all vaccines in use have been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) are of high quality and suitable for inoculation to any community or country,” Minister Alahapperuma emphasised. 
It was regrettable that only 38% of Sri Lankans had got the booster vaccine and that was why the cases of infections from the pandemic rise by the day in Sri Lanka, he lamented. 
“It is sad to note that several myths and canards have been in circulation since the spread of the viral infection in early 2020. There is a misconception among Sri Lankans that Chinese vaccines are substandard and US made vaccines are of high quality, which is not the case. Sri Lanka has spent nearly Rs. 100 billion to airlift vaccines certified by the WHO and our own National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA). All vaccines, whether they are from China, the US or any other country, are clinically tested and approved for safe inoculation,” he said. 
He added that it was improper and foolhardy for someone to think that vaccine Pfizer from the US is of high standard and refuse to get a jab from any other vaccine. The fear that the booster dose would cause complications is unfounded and not clinically proved. It is also extremely unwise not get the booster as it makes it difficult to control the pandemic, in particular the new variant Omicron, which is spreading fast in Sri Lanka. 
“You have no remedy other than getting the booster to keep the COVID-19 at bay. It is extremely vital for all Sri Lankans to get full immunisation with the third dose or the booster to get full protection from the viral infection and prevent death,” Minister Alahapperuma stressed. 

The canard, lies, half-truths and absolute lies have been in circulation since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. But Sri Lanka is a country with educated people. You all must therefore be determined to keep all these negative thinking aside and get inoculated with first, second and third dose to stay safe from the pandemic. 
“Sri Lanka has done well in controlling the pandemic successfully, with over 90% immunised with the first jab and over 80% with the second jab. But we are a bit backward by full immunisation with the booster, which completes the immunisation process. That is why we urged all citizens to get your booster as early as possible,” Minister Alahapperuma added. 

• Sri Lanka has done well in controlling the pandemic successfully, with over 90% immunised with the first jab and over 80% with the second jab
• All vaccines are WHO approved and of high quality
• Only 38% of Sri Lankans have taken the booster