COLOMBO (News 1st): The expected results cannot be achieved by administering the COVID-19 jab on people who use narcotics and liquor, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) pointed out.

“When an individual smokes or drinks, the immunity drops to a very low-level and therefore, when the COVID-19 vaccine is given to such individuals, the expected results cannot be achieved since the immunity response and memory cells are very weak,” Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa, the Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) told News 1st on Thursday (Feb. 04).

Further elaborating Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa said, “The aim of inoculation is to create immunity from the body itself by administering a very weak version of the virus; whereas, an immune response will be created whilst memory cells will react accordingly in the event the virus re-enters the body.”

According to Dr. Rajapaksa of the NATA, if the vaccine is administered to anyone who smokes and drinks, they should avoid alcohol, narcotics and smoking for at least 3-6 months.

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