(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Gampaha Covid Committee is focusing on making the Covid Vaccination Card compulsory when attending public events and places in the Gampaha District.
The Gampaha District Covid Committee today decided to take further action on mandating the vaccination card after expediting the administration of the booster vaccine within the next two weeks.
The Gampaha District Covid Committee met yesterday (24) under the chairmanship of Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.
It was revealed that 1,452,709 people in the Gampaha District had received both doses of Covid vaccine but only 422,733 have received the booster vaccine. It was also revealed that the lowest number of people who received the booster dose in the Gampaha District is in the Ja-Ela Medical Officer of Health area.
Health officials, divisional secretaries and heads of local government bodies told the committee that the vaccination card should be made mandatory at all public places in the Gampaha district and at ceremonies.
Minister Ranatunga pointed out that the misinformation about the booster vaccine was one of the reasons why the people were not interested in getting the booster vaccine.
Minister Ranatunga said that the government is taking steps to make the Covid vaccination card compulsory for entry into public places and that the President has instructed to expedite booster administration. He pointed out that the country could not be closed again, and therefore expediting the administration of the Covid booster vaccine was the only solution to the Covid epidemic.
It was decided at this meeting to declare two weeks from today (25) as Covid booster vaccination weeks in the district and to implement special programs at the level of the Medical Officer of Health for this purpose.
This vaccination program is being implemented throughout the district in collaboration with the Medical Officers of Health, Divisional Secretariats and Local Government Institutions. The goal is to vaccinate more than 10,000 people daily.
The Minister also instructed the District Secretary to provide the necessary facilities to the offices of the Medical Officer of Health. It was also decided to assign graduate trainees and employees recruited under the 100,000 employment program.
The Health authorities pointed out to the Minister that the offices of the Medical Officers of Health have been instructed to carry out their duties as usual.
Considering the current situation, the Gampaha Covid Committee decided that priority should be given to the Medical Offices of Health to provide booster vaccine.
It was also decided to provide the assistance of the Army Medical Services at the required locations during the vaccination program.
Booster vaccination is given in all hospitals in the Gampaha District from 08.00 am to 04.00 pm. There are also two Vaccination Centers at the Divisional Medical Officer Division level.
It was also decided to implement a special program to provide booster vaccine to the employees of all government institutions and factories in the district.
Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control, Gampaha District Secretary Pradeep Ratnayake, People’s Representatives of the district, Divisional Secretaries, District Pradeshiya Sabha Urban Council Chairmen and Health Authorities attended the meeting.
