The national vaccination drive, spearheaded by members of the armed forces as recommended by the Ministry of Health, commenced one more progressive phase on Monday (1) by providing the 3rd dose or the booster dose to frontline health workers including tri-service men, Policemen, health and tourism sector personnel and other selected front liners.
Inauguration of the project took place Yesterday morning (1) at the Colombo Army Hospital, headed by General Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army.
Interacting with the Media at the venue, General Shavendra Silva announced that inoculation of the booster dose as the third vaccine will accordingly be given to all working at the frontline, and it will cover tourism, airport and other sectors.
“All those who had both previous vaccines after 6 months of the last vaccine are eligible to receive this booster as considered necessary. I earnestly appeal the general public to continue to adhere to health guidelines since an average of 500 – 600 affected people are still traced daily and nearly 14,000 are in quarantine, although many restrictions have been removed.”
Brigadier Crishantha Fernando, Director General Army Health Services, together with Brigadier Nishantha Pathirana, Director Medical Services and Senior Officers welcomed the visiting Army Chief and ushered him to the vaccination location where Army personnel at frontlines were symbolically inoculated as the inauguration.
Director General of Health Services, Dr Asela Gunawardene had gone on record saying that the booster, Pfizer vaccine would be administered to all those frontline workers, those above 60 years of age and all above 20 years of age on a staggered basis.