Colombo: Sri Lankan health authorities started on Friday vaccination of children aged 12 to 15, as the island nation’s top medical experts warned of a wave of COVID-19 Transitions in the coming weeks powered by omicron Type.
Under the new vaccination program, children will be given a single dose of pfizer Vaccine, the health ministry said. Earlier, children above 15 years could be vaccinated.
The latest effort begins as schools prepare to fully reopen from Monday. Children were previously allowed to attend schools in two groups.
The move comes even as authorities are taking steps to make vaccination certificates mandatory for entering public places.
According to health officials, 47 omicron cases have been detected in Sri Lanka so far.
association of medical experts, which includes the country’s top doctors, pointed to the rise in Covid-19 cases last April as a warning “that history is repeating itself.”
About 15,000 people died in that outbreak.
“Shops and bars, (New Year’s Eve) parties were packed,” the association said in a statement. “It is therefore inevitable that the Omicron variant will cause a major wave of infections during the coming weeks.”
Last April’s surge led to two separate lockdowns. The latest lockdown was lifted in October and authorities have since gradually eased several COVID-related restrictions.
At its peak last July, Sri Lanka reported more than 3,000 daily infections and over 200 deaths. With fewer than 20 deaths, daily infections are now around 500.
The country has recorded a total of 589,479 confirmed cases and 15,065 deaths.
life in sri lanka Normalcy has started to return with the partial lifting of restrictions on restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas and weddings. But officials maintain strict restrictions on public transport and discourage public gatherings.
Face masks and social distancing are still mandatory in public and police take legal action against anyone who fails to comply.
About 64% of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people have been fully vaccinated, and about 20% have received boosters.
Under the new vaccination program, children will be given a single dose of pfizer Vaccine, the health ministry said. Earlier, children above 15 years could be vaccinated.
The latest effort begins as schools prepare to fully reopen from Monday. Children were previously allowed to attend schools in two groups.
The move comes even as authorities are taking steps to make vaccination certificates mandatory for entering public places.
According to health officials, 47 omicron cases have been detected in Sri Lanka so far.
association of medical experts, which includes the country’s top doctors, pointed to the rise in Covid-19 cases last April as a warning “that history is repeating itself.”
About 15,000 people died in that outbreak.
“Shops and bars, (New Year’s Eve) parties were packed,” the association said in a statement. “It is therefore inevitable that the Omicron variant will cause a major wave of infections during the coming weeks.”
Last April’s surge led to two separate lockdowns. The latest lockdown was lifted in October and authorities have since gradually eased several COVID-related restrictions.
At its peak last July, Sri Lanka reported more than 3,000 daily infections and over 200 deaths. With fewer than 20 deaths, daily infections are now around 500.
The country has recorded a total of 589,479 confirmed cases and 15,065 deaths.
life in sri lanka Normalcy has started to return with the partial lifting of restrictions on restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas and weddings. But officials maintain strict restrictions on public transport and discourage public gatherings.
Face masks and social distancing are still mandatory in public and police take legal action against anyone who fails to comply.
About 64% of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people have been fully vaccinated, and about 20% have received boosters.
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