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AMS lambasts rush to vaccinate H’tota youth with Pfizer vaccine

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The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) on Monday said that the government decision to use the Pfizer vaccine to immunise people in 20-30 age group in Hambantota was irrational and unscientific.

AMS President Dr. Lakkumar Fernando said, in a statement, that the priority should be given to saving lives, and reducing hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients.

 “For this purpose, we need to initially immunise the vulnerable, i.e. those over 60 years and those with co morbidities. Though recommended, this policy was not implemented initially, and as a result the death rate has increased. However, we appreciate the fact that the over 60 year group is now being immunised. In addition, a sizeable proportion of fully vaccinated people are also succumbing to Covid 19, or occupying much-needed hospital beds and ICUs.”

 The AMS says immunisation has to be done in a scientific manner. The rational policy would be to immunise the unvaccinated vulnerable people as a priority, and then to consider a booster dose to the fully vaccinated group who are at risk of severe disease.

Data from Bahrain and also from Prof. Malavige’s group suggests that, while people below 60 years mount a good immune response to Sinopharm vaccine, it is evident that a minority of people of over 60 years do not produce an antibody response (seroconvert) and are at a higher risk of hospitalisation and death, compared to those given Pfizer/Moderna/ Astra- Zeneca (AZ) vaccines. In addition, certain groups (transplant recipients/cancer patients on therapy/recipients of immunosuppressive drugs) do not mount an adequate immune response following two doses of vaccine. Both these groups should receive a third dose of AZ/Pfizer/Moderna vaccine to prevent such undesirable outcome.

“We have a limited quantity of AZ/mRNA vaccines. In such a situation, we find the administration of the Pfizer vaccine to healthy persons in the 20-30 age group who can effectively mount an adequate immune response with the Sinopharm vaccine, is irrational and unscientific. We believe that administration of Covid vaccines should be done with the advice of a competent body of experts, such as the ACCD of the Ministry of Health. Deviation from the advice of the ACCD has already cost many lives by offering Covid vaccines to 30 to 60 age group before completing the vaccination of above 60-year age group. We hope that, even at this late stage, decisions will be taken in a more rational manner based on scientific evidence,” he said.  (RK)



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Thousands flee floods after dam collapse near Nova Kakhovka

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An aerial image shows water pouring through what appears to be a breach in the dam (pic BBC)

BBC reported that thousands of people are being evacuated downstream of a major dam which has been blown up in Russian-held Ukraine.

President Zelensky said 80 towns and villages were at risk of flooding after the destruction of the dam at Nova Kakhovka, which he blamed on Russia. Water is surging down the Dnipro river and is said to pose a catastrophic flooding risk to the city of Kherson.

Russia has denied destroying the dam – which it controls – instead blaming Ukrainian shelling. Neither Ukraine or Russia’s claim has been verified by the BBC.

The Kakhovka dam is crucial in the region. It contains a reservoir, which provides water to farmers and residents, as well as to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It is also is a vital channel carrying water south to Russian-occupied Crimea.

Video footage shows a torrent of floodwater gushing through a breach in the dam. Several towns are already flooded, while people in areas further downstream were forced to flee by bus and train.

Around 40,000 people need to be evacuated, Deputy Prosecutor-General Viktoriya Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television – 17,000 people in Ukraine-controlled territory west of the Dnipro River and 25,000 on the Russian-controlled east.

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Sagala Ratnayaka leads Sri Lanka delegation to 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue

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Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor (NSA) Sagala Ratnayaka led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier Security Summit held in Singapore from 2 – 4 June 2023.

The highly anticipated summit commenced on 2 June with a powerful Keynote address delivered by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Throughout the event, a series of plenary sessions delved into various crucial geo-political issues, encompassing the establishment of a stable and balanced Asia Pacific, the resolution of regional tensions, the evolution of maritime security in Asia, US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and China’s latest security initiatives, among other topics.

During the Special Session focusing on ‘Defence Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,’ Ratnayaka delivered an impactful statement, participating alongside representatives from India, Oman, France, and the United States. He emphasized the significance of keeping big power rivalries and external conflicts out of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Sri Lanka’s efforts in the United Nations to declare the region as a zone of peace. Furthermore, he underscored the country’s contributions to preserving freedom of navigation and over flight, stressing the crucial need for constructive dialogue among all stakeholders in the Indian Ocean region to pursue shared interests.

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Prices of sixty essential drugs to be reduced from 15th June

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The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal raised by the Minister of Health to reduce the maximum retail price of 60 medicines by 16% with effect from 15.06.2023 and review the price of medicines every three months

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