Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says that all local government bodies in the country will be converted into vaccination centers to expedite the provision of the booster vaccine. The Regional Health Medical Officers’ Offices have also instructed the Regional Directors of Health Services and the District Directors of Health Services to expedite the provision of booster vaccinations and to add several centers in each division for this purpose.
This will enable the booster vaccine to be given to the target population in the next few weeks, the Minister said.
He was speaking at a special discussion with the Sri Lanka Broadcasters’ Forum at the Ministry of Health today (06). Health Secretary Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe and Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information Anusha Pelpita were also present.
At present 28% of the target population in the country has received the booster vaccine. The Minister of Health stated that the aim is to provide the vaccine to a very high percentage by the end of this month. The Minister said that the 29th of this month marks one year since the commencement of the vaccination program in the country and about 45 million vaccines have been imported to Sri Lanka during that period.
The Minister said that the vaccination card with the QR code and the application (App) will be issued soon and the booster vaccine will be included in the full vaccination for that card. Therefore, obtaining the booster vaccine will be mandatory for the vaccination card and it will be essential when entering public places, he said.
The Minister said that President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had implemented this vaccination program in Sri Lanka in an exemplary manner to the world and it has been highly appreciated by world leaders and diplomats.
