TMC Colombo webinar: COVID-19 vaccine myth busters in today’s business world

Speaker Professor Suranjith Seneviratne

Chairman Dr. Pradeep Edward

Moderator Riza Cassim

Project Director Ranjith Fernando

In recent times, the world has been battling the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has created problems and issues globally and affected all aspects of our lives. Following an exponential increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, healthcare systems around the world have taken a major hit. Medications for COVID-19 have been generally disappointing and so far, the spread of the pandemic has been kept in check by good social distancing measures that were put in place. 

Vaccination against COVID-19 is becoming a corner stone in the management and control of this devastating pandemic. Governments, charities, scientists and clinicians around the world pooled their resources to develop and test a number of COVID-19 vaccines. Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in different countries and so far over 250 million doses have been administered. Many new terms and concepts regarding the different COVID-19 vaccines have come into use and many persons are trying to understand some of these aspects. 

Several myths about the vaccines and their effects have been in circulation and may be causing some confusion to many. With this in mind a specially tailored webinar has been organised on Saturday 20 March from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom) with a view to answering many of the questions that the general public has on the COVID-19 vaccines. No short cuts have been taken in the design, testing, or production of the approved COVID-19 vaccines and the real-world vaccine use information is showing a reduction in severe cases, hospital admissions and deaths. Virus transmission also appears to be reduced. 

Information on the beneficial effects of the COVID-19 vaccines is coming from many countries in the world and there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel of getting this pandemic under control. At the webinar, Professor Suranjith Seneviratne would be asked to outline the current status of COVID-19 vaccination on a global scale and to answer the many questions that different persons have about the vaccines including their safety, efficacy and use in specific groups such as in pregnant women. 

Professor Suranjith Seneviratne is currently at the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, UK and Health Services Laboratories, London, UK. He completed his basic medical degree at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo with First Class Honours, eight distinctions and 10 Gold medals and was placed first in his year. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at the University of Colombo, trained in Clinical Immunology and Allergy at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and completed a DPhil in Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford. Hemas Pharmaceuticals Senior Business Manager Riza Cassim would moderate the webinar and direct the exploration of the different aspects of the COVID-19 vaccines that the general public wishes to know and understand. The webinar is organised by The Management Club – Colombo. 

Sadaharitha Group of Companies Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer and The Management Club Chairman Dr. Pradeep Edward said that in a situation like this, TMC is pleased to present this webinar as a timely and needed topic and stated that this webinar will be an eye opener for many who are drenched with the myths that go viral amongst the population.

He further stated that the business leaders must look positive to move forward. Ranjith Fernando, as the Project Director expressed his pleasure in organising this timely and needed webinar as this would provide specific answers for many of their questions, fears or misconceptions. He further stated that his team’s objective is to communicate this message to all the corporates in Sri Lanka. Fernando also thanked the event sponsor, AU Entertainment which offers a full range of event management services for conferences and major events. Join them to gain valuable information and insights on the COVID-19 vaccines. 

(Join the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9730955184?pwd=TWJXMndKekNBZnFOSEpBVG9KNGYyQT0).