• All vaccinated children will be kept for 30 minutes in the vaccination centre

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) has approved and recommended giving Pfizer vaccine to healthy children in the age group from 15 to 19, a member of the committee, Consultant Physician Dr Harsha Sathischandra said yesterday.   

Dr Sathischandra who is also the President of Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine told a news briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau that they had already communicated this to the Health Ministry and the Ministry would start the vaccination drive in the near future.   

“The vaccination of children of the said group would commence in descending order, which means from 19 to 15. Also, the vaccination drive is to be carried out at all hospitals and MOH offices,” he said.   

“We have advised the Ministry to conduct the vaccination drive in a pertinent manner. Accordingly, all vaccinated children will be detained for 30 minutes in the vaccination centre in order to see whether there are any complications after being jabbed,” he added. 

 
Dr Sathischandra also cautioned children not to take paracetamol or any other drugs to prevent complications prior to getting vaccinated but recommended that paracetamol could be taken only if symptoms like headache, body pain and fever appear after vaccination. 

• The vaccination drive is to be carried out at all hospitals and MOH offices