7,546 persons vaccinated on Sunday

The ongoing COVID-19 immunisation program on Sunday administered the second dose of AstraZeneca to 5,192 persons and the first dose of Sinopharm to 2,354 persons.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, the first dose of AstraZeneca has been administered to 925,242 persons, of which 330,988 persons have received the second dose as well.

The first dose of Sinopharm has been administered to 514,259 persons, of which 2,435 persons have received the second dose as well. A donation of 500,000 doses of the vaccine from China is due to arrive in the island today.

The Sputnik V vaccine has been administered to 14,984 persons.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,454,485 persons have received the first dose of the above vaccines and 333,423 persons have received the second dose as well.

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) yesterday said they would step away from COVID-19 duties today if a definite program to vaccinate all health staff and their families is not presented. This follows claims that only certain doctors and their families are being vaccinated.

“We show great displeasure over the Health Ministry’s decision to protect the Government Medical Officers’ Association and their family members and did not give our technical support to vaccination programs [yesterday],” PHIU President Upul Rohana said.

He added that other medical staff also face a risk of COVID-19 and are unable to return to their families over fears of infecting them. However, Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Hemantha Herath denied that certain health workers are given vaccine privilege.

“To my knowledge, a different decision has not been made as of now besides administering the second dose to persons who have already received the first dose according to available stocks,” Dr. Herath said, adding that decisions on groups that receive the COVID-19 vaccine are made by an advisory committee on non-communicable diseases.