The COVID-19 immunisation program on Tuesday vaccinated 38,263 persons, with the Epidemiology Unit stating that over 300,000 persons have been fully vaccinated in the country.

On Tuesday, 5,229 persons received the second dose of AstraZeneca, bringing the total number of persons to receive both doses of the vaccine to 297,686. A total of 925,242 persons have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The first dose of Sputnik V was administered to 17 people on Tuesday and a total of 14,917 persons have received the first dose of the vaccine.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 33,017 persons received the first dose of Sinopharm on Tuesday, bringing the total number of persons to receive the first dose of Sinopharm to 457,840. The second dose of the vaccine has been administered to 2,435 Chinese nationals working in Sri Lanka.

According to Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana, a donation of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccines can be expected from China this month. Meanwhile, health officials yesterday stressed the importance of adhering to safety guidelines even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Based on studies carried out on vaccination, the main thing we expect from vaccination is the reduction of complications of the disease and the likelihood of death. These are the key results of vaccination,” Senior Consultant Physician at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said yesterday.

He stressed that vaccination does not completely eliminate the risk of contracting disease.

Echoing these views was Prof. Neelika Malavige, who is attached to the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Sri Jayewardenepura University.

She explained that immunity against COVID-19 is not developed overnight after vaccination. “None of the vaccines provide protection overnight as it takes time to build immunity in the system. After the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, it typically takes 21 days to develop immunity. This might be insufficient after one dose, which is why there are two doses,” Prof. Malavige said.

She added that data shows that COVID-19 vaccines developed thus far are effective against the UK variant, which is prevalent in Sri Lanka.

“However, data shows that there could be a drop in efficacy against the South Africa, Brazil, and Indian variants, but all vaccines, not just those registered in Sri Lanka, but all vaccines in the world, are doing what they are supposed to do,” Prof. Malavige stressed.

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