Vaccination of kids over 12 years, with congenital disorders, from tomorrow

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka will commence administering the COVID-19 vaccines for children with congenital disorders above the age of 12 from Friday (24).

A congenital disorder is a condition that is present from birth.

The Director-General of Health Services said the vaccines will be administered at the following hospitals :

- Kurunegala Teaching Hospital

- Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital

- Lady Ridgeway Hospital For Children, Colombo.

Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital For Children, Dr. G. Wijesuriya told News 1st that before administering the vaccine, children will be directed to a specialist for an examination.

Children with congenital disorders above the age of 12 will be given the Pfizer vaccine and the second dose will be given 04 weeks after the first dose.

Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, a well-known Paediatric Neurologist in the country told reporters that there are around 30,000 to 40,0000 children with congenital disorders in Sri Lanka at the moment and they will be given the vaccine from tomorrow.

In addition to the consent from the parents, a medical expert will have to authorize the vaccination for children with congenital disorders, he added.

He urged parents, not to line up and cause congestion as the vaccination program will be expanded.

"We are aiming to vaccinate around 30,000 children. However, we have reserved 200,000 doses of the vaccine. Therefore, parents do not need to have any fear," assured Dr. Padeniya.

Dr. Asela Gunawardena, the Director-General of Health Services urged parents who are not from Colombo, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala not to breach the district boundaries to obtain the vaccine, as the vaccination program for children with congenital disorders will be expanded.