News
Health experts’ decision on jab mix to overcome AZ shortage expected in two weeks – Pavithra
By Saman Indrajith
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament yesterday that experiments were being conducted by a team of Lankan experts to use Pfizer vaccines as the second dose for those who had been given the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Wanniarachchi said that in several countries those who received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine had been given Pfizer booster shots. The results were encouraging, she added. The team of experts was expected to submit its findings within the next two weeks and those findings would then be referred to the National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases for further recommendations.
Responding to a series of questions raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the prevailing situation with regard to the national inoculation drive, the Health Minister said there were 582,000 persons who had received the first dose of AstraZeneca. The government was trying to obtain the second dose of the vaccine for them using its diplomatic channels. In addition in the coming days the country would receive 264,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine under COVAX.
The Minister said that there was a serious delay in obtaining AstraZeneca vaccines, produced in India, as the producer had suspended export. Several other countries were facing the same problem, she said, adding that 925,242 persons had been given the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.
The first recommendation was that those who received the first jab of AstraZeneca should get their second dose after four weeks. However, on the basis of findings of scientific experiments in April this year, it was recommended that the second dose should be delayed for 12 weeks to get immunity against the virus. As per the most recent findings, those who got the first jab had optimum immunity for 16 weeks.
The Minister said that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines received from India, and vaccines received under the COVAX facility and vaccines purchased from the Serum Institute of India had been given to the health workers of the government and private hospitals, front-row officials including the members of police, tri-forces and the Civil Defence force, employees in vulnerable places such as ports, airport and Courts, people above the age of 30 in the Western province, and the Matara District and employees at Norochcholai Power Plant, Parliament staff, MPs and religious leaders.
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took delivery of the EX- United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC DECISIVE, provided by the United States to SLN, at a ceremony held at the United
States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on 02 Dec 25. The event was also attended by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
The ship formally joined the SLN fleet on 02 December under the pennant number P 628 and the main mast of the ship will fly the National Flag effective from that date.
Aiming to strengthen and develop partnerships to overcome common challenges in the maritime domain, the U.S. Coast Guard has previously provided 03 ships to SLN and they are currently patrolling island waters under the names of ‘Samudura’ (P 621), ‘Gajabahu’(P 626), and ‘Vijayabahu’ (P 627).
As an extension of partnership ties that bring value to each other’s services, Ex-USCGC DECISIVE was transferred as the fourth ship to be handed to SLN.
Ex-USCGC DECISIVE, a ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’, measures 64m in length, and having endurance of 6000 NM at cruising speed. Further, she has been designed for a
crew of 100 and is equipped with weapons and machinery.
The ship which was used by the U.S. Coast Guard has rendered exceptional service during her tenure by curbing illegal activities, including smuggling of narcotics in U.S. waters.
Sri Lanka inherits an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is seven times larger than the landmass. In such a backdrop, the Navy is determined to deploy this vessel in wide-ranging
operations that include the conservation of marine resources in the region and the search and rescue of naval and fishing communities in distress. Thereby, the Navy will be able to utilize
this vessel efficiently in the future to achieve the national aspiration, while ensuring safe and secure seas for all economic affairs.
The formal handing over – taking over ceremony was also distinguished by the presence of the Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer and Director of Domain & Integration Services U.S. Coast
Guard, James L. Knight, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for South and Southeast Asia, Dr. Andrew Byers, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Commanding Officer designate of P 628, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya as well as a group of officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in United States and the State Department
of the United State
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600hrs today [5th December] confirms that 486 persons have died and another 341 persons are missing after the devastating weather conditions in the past week.
171,778 persons have been displaced and have taken refuge at 1,231 safety centers established by the government.
Death toll rises to 607, missing persons reduce to 214 at 1800hrs today (5)
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486 dead, 341 missing, 171,778 displaced as at 0600hrs today [05]
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