‘Take 4th dose of vaccine against COVID-19 without delay’
Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Forum assures there are no safety and efficacy issues in extending shelf life of Pfizer batch in SL
Take the 4th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine without delay, is the urgent plea from senior health experts this week, particularly to those at risk. As the spread of COVID-19 increases rapidly due to the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, the Vaccine and Infectious Diseases
Forum of Sri Lanka headed by Dr. Geethani
Galagoda has urged all eligible adults especially the elderly
(those over 60 years of age) to take the 4th dose.
She reiterates that the Forum is “satisfied” that there are no safety and efficacy issues in extending the shelf life of the current batch of Pfizer vaccines available in Sri Lanka.
“The expiry date of the current batch of Pfizer vaccines has been extended for three months. As these are new vaccines, expiry dates may be revised with increasing knowledge on the stability of the vaccine. The vaccine manufacturer along with the European Medicines Agency (EMA – the regulatory agency of the European Union) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has made changes regarding the shelf-life of vaccines, based on new evidence,” says Dr. Galagoda on behalf of the forum, explaining that the expiry date on the shelf life of these vaccines has been extended from nine to 12 months (from end-July to end-October).
Pointing out that in Sri Lanka, a number of deaths have also been reported due to BA.4 and BA.5 mainly among people over 60 years and those with co-morbidities such as cancer, she says that many adults have taken the original two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and a booster.
“However, the booster was administered at least six months previously. As immune responses wane with time, boosting the immune response would improve immunity. The second booster (4th) dose with the Pfizer vaccine is offered to people over 20 years, specifically to those over 60 years and also patients with co-morbidities. While a booster dose of vaccine may not prevent infection, it will most probably boost T cell immunity against the sub-variants, which will reduce the occurrence of severe disease and death,” adds Dr. Galagoda.
All Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices are administering the vaccine, it is learnt.