Govt. requests trade unions to refrain from strike action over COVID-19 vaccination

The Government yesterday requested all trade union heads and representatives to refrain from taking any strike action over COVID-19 vaccination issues and instead provide an efficient service.

According to a statement issued by Ministry of Home Affairs Secretary N.H.M. Chithranandha, the vaccination program will target staff of Divisional Secretariats and Provincial Secretariats, development officers attached to Grama Niladhari offices, and field officers, prioritising current vaccine stocks.

The Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Association yesterday stated an islandwide strike will be launched at midnight if measures are not taken to give vaccine priority to Grama Niladhari officers, field officers and Divisional Secretaries.

According to Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Association President Sumith Kodikara, 12,000 Grama Niladhari Officers had agreed to launch strike action.

While public health inspectors (PHI) the previous day stated that they would step away from COVID-19 prevention duties in protest of COVID-19 vaccine priority being given to family members of Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) members, PHI Union President Upul Rohana yesterday said the trade union action had been temporarily suspended following discussions with the Health Ministry.

“A special discussion was held with the Health Minister on [Monday night], where it was decided that the second dose of AstraZeneca will be provided as planned to the rest of the family members of health staff at centres started by GMOA. With this decision, trade union action has been temporarily suspended,” Upul Rohana said.

Several organisations showed displeasure over priority given to GMOA family members, but the Health Ministry clarified that persons receiving the vaccine were those due to receive the second dose of the AstraZeneca Covidshield vaccine.

In response to questions regarding the matter, Co-Cabinet Spokesperson Ramesh Pathirana yesterday said: “We need to understand that public health inspectors, nurses, doctors and all health staff are doing a great task for COVID-19 prevention. There is a need to vaccinate their families, and not only doctors, but nurses and PHIs as well. The Government has recognised this.”

He added that the country was currently facing a vaccine shortage but that close relatives and contacts of health workers as well as officers on a local Government level will receive the vaccine in the coming days.

At present, the AstraZeneca vaccine is being administered only as the second dose and 7,505 persons received the second dose of the vaccine on Monday. At present, 925,242 persons have received the first dose and 338,493 persons have received the second dose.

In addition to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Sri Lanka has administered the first dose of Sinopharm to 516,259 persons. This includes the 2,000 persons vaccinated on Monday. The second dose of Sinopharm has been administered to 2,435 persons.

The first dose of Sputnik V has been administered to 14,984 persons.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 1,456,485 persons have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines and 340,928 persons have received the second dose.