Vaccination of the 15 to 19 age group against COVID-19 has been approved by the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD).

It is the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved for this age group and the immunisation program will first administer one dose of the vaccine and later administer the second dose if necessary.

“We have recommended that the first dose is administered to this age group in a systematic manner starting from 19-year-old children and working our way down the age group,” ACCD Member Dr. Harsha Sathischandra said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said a preliminary recommendation has been made for a booster shot for the over-20 population. However, written recommendations are yet to be issued by the Director General of Health Services.

“We are looking at a large population, so we need to begin with the most high-risk groups as we receive vaccine doses and gradually cover the entire population,” he said.

• 772 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Both COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to over 12 million persons

• 44 COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Wednesday