• Transmission of the virus can be reduced even without vaccination
• There would definitely be major outbreaks if people continued to take guidelines for granted
• The only way to prevent the spread of the virus is by adhering to health practices

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

Emerging major clusters is inevitable irrespective of the vast vaccination drive in the country if people act in a manner conducive of spreading the disease, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told Daily Mirror yesterday.

He said if people continued to ignore health practices, there is no other result other than getting back to the serious situation the country had a few months ago.  “In the case of vaccines, none of them help prevent infection but build immunity inside the human body and reduce complications and probability of dying from the virus,” he argued.
“Even if a country immunizes 100 percent of its population, there could be major outbreaks if people do not adhere to guidelines,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, he said transmission of the virus can be reduced even sans vaccination if necessary health precautions are taken.  However, while stressing the importance of vaccination due to vulnerable people, Dr. Herath highlighted that the only way to prevent the spread of the virus is by adhering to health practices.
Thus, he reiterated that despite the highest level of vaccination, there would definitely be major outbreaks if people continued to take guidelines for granted.