• Recommendations being compiled on children between 12 and 15
• 22,000 children with comorbidities already vaccinated
• None of them developed serious side effects after vaccination

By Kelum Bandara

Sri Lanka closely observes newly emerging data on vaccination of children aged between three and 12 against COVID-19 to make recommendations, a leading paediatrician said.

President of Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith told Daily Mirror, China and the United States had started work on vaccination of children below 12.  Prof. Rajindrajith, a consultant paediatrician, said his office was carefully studying data emerging in the world to make recommendations for the Sri Lankan authorities to decide.

Besides, he said the advisory group of communicable diseases was compiling recommendations on the inoculation of children between 12 and 15 at the moment.

The health authorities had already vaccinated 22,000 children with comorbidities. Around 3,000 of them have now received their second shots.

Prof. Rajindrajith said none of them developed serious side effects after vaccination. Also, he said a large number of children between 16 and 19 had been administered with COVID-19 vaccines.

“Child vaccination is well in progress,” he said.  

• China and the United States had started work on vaccination of children below 12