Only 20% of those between 20 and 29 yrs in Colombo have taken jab

Only 20% of those between 20 and 29 in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) limits, had taken the COVID-19 jab, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni said.

It showed a significant reluctance among the youth to get the jab, he said.

Dr. Wijemuni said there were 97,000 youth eligible to be vaccinated in the CMC area

“This is of serious concern. Vaccination is our main tool to get out of the pandemic. We need people to take the jab as soon as possible. When people don’t take the jab, not only do they endanger themselves and others but also they delay the country’s recovery from the pandemic,” he stressed.

Dr. Wijemuni urged the young people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. “The claims that there are adverse side-effects from the vaccine are false”, he said.

A substantial number of individuals between 20 and 29 were reluctant to get vaccinated because of worries that COVID vaccines could harm fertility or sexual function, State Minister Channa Jayasumana said recently.

“This is mainly due to bogus social media claims”, Prof. Jayasumana said, adding that there was no truth in such claims. “Don’t fall for these bogus claims. Come and get vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said. (RK)