By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government was planning to finish vaccinating children between 12 and 19 years of age by the end of October, Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwelle said yesterday at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.

The vaccination drive kicked off with the inoculation of children over the age of 12 suffering from comorbidities at the Lady Ridgeway, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Hospitals. A 14-year-old girl was the first to be vaccinated.

“We started this initiative after the Director General of Health Services issued guidelines. The first to be inoculated are the children with comorbidities. We are using the Pfizer vaccine. Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Hospitals were chosen because there are a large number of children with comorbidities in the two districts,” he said.

The Minister said that there were some discussions on the best vaccine to use among children between 12 and 15. Until that discussion is solved, those with comorbidities and those between 15 and 19 would be vaccinated, he said.

Meanwhile, Chair Professor of Paediatrics Shaman Rajindrajith of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Colombo, who was also present at LRH, urged parents to have their children vaccinated as soon as possible.

“There are very little side effects. However, if something happens a consultant paediatrician will be on call. The vaccination cards indicate a hotline and if there is any problem, parents can call us. On the first day of the vaccination (24) I will be the person answering the phone. So, don’t worry, we are ready for anything,” he said,

President of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya said that over 100 children had arrived at LRH. He said that there were between 30,000 and 50,000 children with comorbidities in the country.

“First we will vaccinate those with comorbidities, so that they can resume schooling. Then we will vaccinate those between 15 and 19 and then those between 12 and 15. We will get the consent of the parents and a medical specialist will check the child before vaccination,” he said.

Meanwhile, Director of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Dr. G. Wijesuriya said that there were adequate vaccines available for all and that they would vaccinate everyone who turned up at the hospital. “There is no need to worry. We have enough vaccines. Parents can register their children through our website. They can reserve a time and get children vaccinated under specialist healthcare. We will use Pfizer and before vaccinating a specialist will check the child. If the child has high fever, diarrhoea or nausea, we will not vaccinate them,” he said.