Booster for specific groups of people

The Advisory Committee on Monday recommended the administration of a booster to four specific categories of people who have already received two doses of any type of vaccine, the Sunday Times learns.

The Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that these four groups will get a booster of the Pfizer vaccine.

The four groups are:

All those who are over 60 years of age will be given a booster six months after they received the second dose of the earlier vaccine. All those in the 18-60 age group who have co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, etc., will be given a booster six months after they received the second dose of the earlier vaccine.

All those who are on immuno-suppressants, are immune-suppressed and those who have undergone organ transplants, who are on dialysis or on cancer treatment will be given a third dose one month after the second jab of the earlier vaccine. All frontline health workers, other frontline workers in the COVID-19 battle such as the tri-forces and police and cleaning and janitorial staff in certain sectors will also be given a booster after six months of receiving the second dose of the earlier vaccine.

Some other categories such as those involved in the tourism sector may also be included in this group, it is learnt.

Dr. Gunawardena added that to give a booster to these four groups Sri Lanka needs around 6.2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and arrangements have been made to secure these stocks.

According to the WHO vaccine booster doses may be needed due to waning protection (immunity) against an infection or disease or reduced protection against variant(s) of concern.