Booster vaccine rollout to kick off soon :SPC Chairman

• The Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) recommended in May to get ready with booster doses to be given after a six-month period of the initial dosage,
• A stock of 14 million doses of Pfizer was procured to be used as a booster dose for people above 60 years
• Another 800,000 Pfizer doses would arrive in Sri Lanka by the end of September as a donation from the US through the COVAX Facility

 By Sheain Fernandopulle

COVID booster jabs will begin to be offered to the relevant groups of people in the near future once the second 
dose rollout is complete, Chairman of State Pharmaceuticals Corporation  Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said it was confusing to administer the booster dose while the second dose rollout was still underway. 

  
“The Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) recommended in May to get ready with booster doses to be given after a six-month period of the initial dosage, which falls at the end of September, October or November,” he outlined.

“Accordingly, a stock of 14 million doses of Pfizer was procured to be used as a booster dose for people above 60 years. We have paid the advance money for this and we will be getting them by the end of October,” he said.
In addition, Dr. Gunasena said another 800,000 Pfizer doses would arrive in Sri Lanka by the end of September as a donation from the US through the COVAX Facility, which could also be utilised for necessary requirements recommended by the ACCD. “However, we are yet to receive clear-cut recommendations on the booster vaccine rollout.  The ACCD has also not yet finalised the date to commence the booster dose, because we are waiting to complete the population above 18 years and the children with chronic illnesses,” he underlined.

When asked whether who would receive the booster dose, Dr Gunasena said initially, the ACCD was planning to give the booster dose to healthcare workers and all those above 60 years of age.

“However, it is too early to conclude on this as the recommendations are yet be finalised,” he added.

• The ACCD has also not yet finalised the date to commence the booster dose, because we are waiting to complete the population above 18 years and the children with chronic illnesses,”