No registration for vaccination Don’t count on WhatsApp or SMS messages: Dr. Herath

• Certain institutions had initiated such registration procedures but had not informed the Health Ministry  regarding that

 By Ajith Siriwardana   

While claiming that there was no procedure in the Health Ministry for the people to get registered for the vaccination drive, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday requested people not to act upon WhatsApp or SMS messages they receive on the vaccination drive.  

He told a news conference at the Health Promotion Bureau that the Health Ministry had not made any official statement requesting people to get registered for the vaccination drive.  

He said they had received information that certain institutions had initiated such registration procedures and added that those institutions had not informed the Health Ministry regarding that.  

“We advise people not to act on WhatsApp or SMS messages they receive requesting them to get registered for the vaccination drive. We request the public only to count on the Health Ministry and Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in the respective areas,” he said.  “It is not a good precedent. Community leaders should cooperate with health workers in this task without disrupting their duties,” he said.