MP: ‘Refusal to take jab can be quite deadly’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Members of Parliament couldn’t be under any circumstances compelled to receive vaccine in spite of the growing danger posed by the raging Covid-19 epidemic, Sergeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando told The Island yesterday (11).

Fernando said that perhaps about a dozen MPs out of 225 hadn’t taken the vaccine. Responding to another query, the top official emphasised that as inoculation was not mandatory, the MPs and the Parliament staff could decline the offer. Fernando said that as much as 98 percent of parliament staff had been vaccinated. Journalists assigned to cover parliamentary proceedings, too, had been vaccinated with the intervention of the Parliament, Fernando said.

Asked whether he had been inoculated, Fernando said that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayaka too received the vaccination. In addition to AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Sputnik and Modena were available for the population.

When The Island pointed out that the Health Ministry had been repeatedly stressing the need for all to be vaccinated, Fernando said that people couldn’t be forced to receive vaccinations unless new laws were introduced.

According to the Sergeant-at-Arms, nearly 150 members of parliament had received the vaccination at the Military Hospital at Narahenpita and several dozen at other places. The majority are believed to have received Covishield (AstraZeneca) from the Indian grant of 500,000 doses on January 28. Inoculation commenced on the following day. Fernando said that some members received Sputnik.

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, who was hospitalised along with his wife, Jalani after being tested positive for Covid-19 told The Island that he had received Pfizer at the Military Hospital.

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena and SPC Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena this week underscored the need for all to get vaccinated. Last week, the police repeatedly urged those who missed getting vaccinated so far to go to the nearest vaccination centre or face the consequences.

The Island

sought the views of the Sergeant-at-Arms on the advice of a spokesperson for the Speaker’s Office. Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake was not immediately available for comment.

SLPP National List MP Mohammed Muzammil said that in spite of certain interested parties propagating lies the vast majority of people enthusiastically obtained vaccines. The National Freedom Front (NFF) member hailing from Matale said that his family had been vaccinated whereas he received his at the Military Hospital at Narahenpita. The former JVP MP urged people to have faith in the vaccination drive. Responding to queries, lawmaker Muzammil alleged that those who propagated extremist views discouraged people. The MP insisted that he was not referring to any particular community but the country’s overall response to the unprecedented Covid-19 challenge.

MP Muzammil said that recent data made available by health authorities here as well as internationally proved the scientific basis for the vaccination to be the primary safeguard against the epidemic.

The MP noted that a very small percentage of those who had taken both doses and one dose succumbed to Covid-19. Appreciating the efforts made by the government to procure required stocks and the vaccination drive carried out jointly by the health staff and the military, lawmaker Muzammil said he earnestly hoped those below 30 years of age, too, would get the jab soon.

Lawmaker Muzammil said that the rising death toll should be a warning to all those opposed to the vaccination drive on unsubstantiated grounds. Acknowledging that vaccination was not mandatory, the MP emphasized that it shouldn’t be an excuse for people to shun it.

The vast majority of those who had succumbed to the epidemic were not vaccinated at all, the MP said.

The death toll has neared 5,400 with daily infections over 2,000 over the past ten days.