(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –The direct decision taken by the government to give the booster dose to the people who have received the second dose three months before has prevented the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals says.
The State Minister said the Omicron variant is spreading as a severe epidemic in the United States and European countries, but such a situation did not occur in Sri Lanka due to a third dose being given as a booster dose three months after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination.
Speaking to media in Anuradhapura yesterday, State Minister Jayasumana said due to the direct decision taken by the government to provide the Pfizer vaccine as the third dose, it has been possible to control the spread of the COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.
The State Minister said by last evening four million seven thousand three hundred and fifty people had been vaccinated with the booster dose and almost all those at high risk, especially in the health sector and the security services, had taken the third dose.
The State Minister said that required amount of Pfizer vaccine to administer as the booster has been imported and therefore all those who have taken the second dose should take the third dose to in order to prevent the spread of Omicron in Sri Lanka.
