Vaccin-sanity

Saturday, 29 May 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

As COVID numbers continue to rise at a searing rate, and the Government muddles along in its belated, yet admittedly crucial, plans to limit movement of the public, it’s become abundantly clear that the only way the country is going to get out of this mess is through a concerted vaccination program.

The key word there of course being ‘concerted,’ though on the evidence of the past weeks and months, it’s safe to say the Government’s efforts have been anything but.

In the past week alone, we have seen: queues form outside hospitals and other health ministry-operated public centres as rumours spread of AstraZeneca vaccines being doled out; further rumours about private companies selling it for Rs. 5,000 a pop; the mayor of Moratuwa caught on camera getting into an argument with a health officer, as he demanded his people get preferential access to the vaccines (credit to the health officer for insisting on a first-come-first-serve system); and AstraZeneca Singapore purportedly warn the State Pharmaceutical Corporation about potential counterfeit vaccines that private companies might be trying to sell to the Government.

Again, it must be stressed, this was in the past week alone. The confusion surrounding the vaccination drive has been just as chaotic over the weeks and indeed months that preceded it.

While credit must be given to the Government for going out of their way to procure vaccine shipments, the administration process has left a lot to be desired. And it’s a far cry from what was promised when the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in February. Back then we were assured that those who received the first dose, would be promptly called back in a few weeks to get the second dose. Months later those who received the first dose are still waiting, in a limbo of sorts, unable to get any other vaccines, and unsure of how long the effectiveness of the first dose will last.

That’s just the public. Then you look at the crossed wires within the Government machinery itself and alarm bells truly start to ring. The Moratuwa mayor episode aside, there’s also the fact that protests occurred throughout the week – with health officers as well as public taking part – against the vaccination of family members of Government Medical Officers, even though other frontline workers such as PHIs are yet to receive their second doses.

While the Government’s reasoning is somewhat sound, this sort of two-tier system only serves to create division and sow confusion, not clarity and confidence. The chaos must be ironed out before the next shipment of vaccines arrive in the country to ensure full efficacy from the very costly affair of purchasing vaccines with public funds.

Sri Lanka has the resources to make this happen. There are dozens of best practices and protocols from around the world that Sri Lanka can follow, including from neighbour India. Sri Lanka also has a thriving tech industry and a highly skilled public health sector, which together with a strong communications strategy can cover this small country very easily. Yet, the Government has chosen to undertake the most important immunisation drive in decades, behind closed doors. With so much at stake, the Government must step up.