Nineteen Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine at the Army Hospital in Narahenpita on the first day of the program to vaccinate all MPs.

Certain MPs refused the vaccination, including Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who said high-risk groups should be prioritised over politicians. Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harin Fernando yesterday tweeted: “I have decided not to take the Covid vaccine now. Our priority should be vaccinating most vulnerable groups and frontline workers. I will take it after at least 1 million people have been vaccinated.”

College of Medical Laboratory Science President and Health Ministry Outbreak Control Medical Laboratory Service Manager Ravi Kumudesh yesterday criticised the Government’s decision to vaccinate politicians. “In terms of priority, journalists, teachers and other groups are in the prioritisation list as they come into constant contact with society in their line of work. The virus can be transmitted to the public through these persons and politicians are not included in the priority list issued by the World Health Organization,” he said.

He also criticised the use of the 250,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that were reserved for the second round of vaccination, saying this could be a major issue if the country has not been guaranteed more supplies of the vaccine from India as, at present, both doses need to be of the same kind.

The vials reserved for the second dose were to be used four weeks after the first round of vaccination but health authorities extended the interval between doses to 12 weeks due to studies showing it increases the impact of the vaccine.

However, Kumudesh said the public may see the extension of the interval as an excuse to use the reserved vials to vaccinate more groups.

756 COVID-19 patients detected

3,225 persons receive COVID-19 vaccine

Six COVID-19 deaths bring total to 409