Listen to science and act responsibly – Dr. Alaka Singh

‘Get vaccinated when it’s your turn and adhere to public health and social measures’

Vaccination is the focus in this follow- up interview of the Sunday Times with the World Health

Organization’s Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr.Alaka Singh.

“Remember that safe and effective vaccines alone cannot defeat the pandemic. We also need to continue robust surveillance, rapid detection of cases, early clinical care and life-saving interventions, provided by well-trained health workers who are able to work in safe conditions,” she says.

Dr. Singh underscores that “more importantly, each one of us needs to do our part in observing public health and social measures, in addition to getting vaccinated.We need to work together to end this pandemic and accelerate global recovery”. ST:What are your views on the vaccination programme in Sri Lanka?

Dr. Singh: There is no question that Sri Lanka’s vaccination effort has been truly remarkable. WHO’s call to countries is to vaccinate 10% of their population by the end of September and 40% by the end of the year. Sri Lanka administering over 20 million doses to vaccinate 50% of the population is a huge achievement. This was possible because the country could build rapidly on the foundation of its strong routine vaccination and primary healthcare system with a whole of government and whole of society approach. If at all, the constraint has been on the supply side and now that adequate vaccines are available, the President’s target of vaccinating 80% of the population by the end of the year appears to bevery feasible.

ST: Would Sri Lankans have to take a booster to top up the two jabs already administered? Dr. Singh: WHO has called for a moratorium on booster doses for the time being.There is no evidence at this point that booster jabs are needed with two doses of WHO recommended vaccines. To date, 72% of all vaccine doses have been administered in just 10 countries. We urgently need to share available supplies more equitably to ensure global access to two doses for priority groups in all countries – because no one is safe until we are all safe.

ST:What are your views on the vaccination of all children? Sri Lanka began vaccinating children in the 12-19 age group in high- risk categories on September 23.

Dr. Singh: Children overall are less likely to suffer from severe disease and death due to COVID- 19. However, evidence does suggest that children with underlyingconditions are at increased risk of severe illness from infection. This is further backed by the data on overall childhood deaths – 66.7% are among children in thehigh-risk category, with comorbidities.

Accordingly, WHO has included children and adolescents with underlying health conditions as a priority group where community transmission is high or where there is a risk of clusters of cases. WHO supports Sri Lanka’s decision on vaccinating children in high- risk categories as timely action.

ST:How should Sri Lanka overcome the reluctance among some youngpeople (in the 20-29 age-group) to get the jab? Dr. Singh:

We need to understand the reason for vaccine hesitancy. Often this is due to a lack of information or a lack of correct information. We need to urge young people to act based on the facts, the evidence. Evidence indicates all WHOapproved vaccines provide significant protection against severe disease and hospitalization due to COVID-19.

Vaccines provide significant protection against severe disease and hospitalization due to all variants of the virus. Vaccines can limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Vaccines are safe for pregnant women. The side- effects of COVID- 19 vaccines may occur in some but are mainly mild and temporary. There is no evidence that any of the COVID vaccines lead to impotence, sterility or infertility, in men or women.

WHO urges everyone to listen to the science and act responsibly. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn and adhere to public health and social measures.