Community Physicians warn of catastrophe

Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, President of the College of Community Physicians yesterday (24) strongly criticised the sudden and unilateral government decision to do away with what he called the scientifically recommended Covid-19 vaccine priority list.

Appearing on Sirasa ‘Pathikada,’ anchored by Asoka Dias, Dr. Abeysinghe alleged that the priority list had been done away with on Feb 16 without consultations. Responding to a spate of probing questions, Dr. Abeysinghe explained how the powers that be acted recklessly contrary to the specific decisions taken by the National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (NACCD) which also functions as a statutory body–the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG).

Dr. Abeysinghe flayed the health ministry for ordering vaccination of those between 30 and 60 though NITAG decision was to give priority to those above 60 and people suffering from non-communicable diseases. The medical specialist emphasized that in terms of their overall plan, those above 60 were to receive the vaccine after the frontline health workers and the military and the police assigned for related services received the jab.

Dr. Abeysinghe said that the sudden deviation from the agreed plan confused the public. The top spokesperson for the College of Community Physicians warned that Sri Lanka would find it difficult to secure the promised vaccine stocks due to failure on the part of the manufacturers to meet the growing demand. Dr. Abeysinghe pointed out that failure to adhere to the agreed plan could cause chaos and may jeopardize the entire project.

Sri Lanka has so far received 500,000 vaccines from India. Dr. Abeysinghe said that the government was talking with India to procure more from the same source.

Political sources told The Island that the issue had been brought to the notice of the President. Sources said that those above 60 were deprived of the vaccine in some areas regardless of the original decision (SF)