300,000 people over 60 years yet to obtain vaccine - Professor Jayasumana

by Zulfick Farzan 16-08-2021 | 10:24 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Over 300,000 people over the age of 60 in Sri Lanka have not obtained a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, revealed Professor Channa Jayasumana, the State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals.

Speaking to News 1st, the State Minister said that a majority of the COVID-19 deaths reported in Sri Lanka are of those who had not obtained a single dose of the vaccine.

He said Sri Lanka's population is approximately 22 million and the over 60 population is around 2.7 million, which is 12.5% of the total population.

The State Minister said 75% of the country's COVID deaths are those over the age of 60.

Sri Lanka has already launched a program to trace the people over the age of 60 who have not obtained the COVID-19 vaccines.

The State Minister said the Sri Lanka Army Mobile Vaccination Centers were deployed in the Western Province to administer the vaccine to those over the age of 60 who are unable to physically visit the vaccination center.

All those over the age of 60 are urged by the government to visit the nearest COVID-19 vaccination center to obtain either the first or the second dose of the vaccine,