Many places from which to get the jab

The Health Ministry including its ground-level staff along with the support of the security forces is on an all- out mission to ensure that no one falls through the cracks of the vaccination programme, assures Dr. Asela Gunawardena.

Multi-pronged is the ministry’s approach:

If someone is bedridden or unable to access a vaccination centre, arrangements have been made to send mobile units.

Mobile units will also go to offices, factories and even tourist hotels where many people gather.

All hospitals up to those at district level are giving the vaccination on working days till 6 p.m. and half-day over the weekend to facilitate vaccination for working people.

The specifics are: The two National Hospitals (in Colombo and Kandy); the Teaching Hospitals; the Provincial General Hospitals; the District General Hospitals; and the Base Hospitals are open until 6 p.m. on weekdays to give the vaccine.

Arrangements have also been made to keep the smaller hospitals open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and halfday on Saturday for vaccination.

While the Medical Officer of Health offices in each and every area are also administering the vaccine, they are also organizing vaccination clinics in villages.

The tri-forces, meanwhile, are running vaccination centres in common places such as the Viharamaha Devi Park and Diyatha Uyana. They are also sending out mobile units.