Those vaccinated with the first dose of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine are responding well to the new Covid variant detect in Sri Lanka recently, health officials said.
According to the Daily Mirror, officials from the Health Promotion Bureau said the vaccine has shown a promising response against the Covid variant which is rapidly spreading across the country at present.
They said hardly any cases have been reported of vaccinated people being infected with the variant.
The Health Promotion Bureau officials said even if those with the first vaccine get infected they will not face severe complications.
The Astra Zeneca vaccines has been administered to over 900,000 people in the Western Province, including frontline health workers and the public over the age of 30.
The Health Promotion Bureau officials further said it has been noted that all COVID-19 vaccines around the world are responding well to new variants of the virus.
They pointed out that a recent study by the University of Sri Jayawardenapura has found that those vaccinated have better immunity than those infected.
The officials insisted that it is extremely important that everyone is vaccinated as vaccinations are the only solution for the pandemic.
The Health Promotion Bureau officials further said a third vaccination dose known as the ‘booster’ might need to be administered in the future.
They added that experts were discussing this possibility and manufacturers were gearing up to cater to the third vaccine.
Meanwhile, State Minister Channa Jayasumana announced today that the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered from tomorrow.
He said the vaccination programme will be commenced with the vaccine being initially administered to healthcare workers. (NewsWire)