• Likely to surpass target of vaccinating 60% population by end December

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised Sri Lanka vaccinating 50 per cent of its population ahead of schedule, a statement from it said.

 WHO’s Sri Lanka chapter said  President Gotabaya  Rajapaksa’s ambitious vaccination effort that spearheads Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 response has long surpassed WHO’s targets. 

“It is also likely to surpass its own target of vaccinating 60% of the population by 31 December,” the statement said.  

Sri Lanka reached an important milestone today with 50% of the population fully vaccinated.  Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate has been the chant for the pandemic response.  This is based on the science of vaccines and global evidence that COVID-19 vaccines can protect against severe disease as well as limit the transmission of the virus.
WHO has called for all countries to vaccinate 10% of their population by the end of September and 40% by the end of the year.