The Health Ministry has decided to administer Covid vaccines to people who are 30 years and above in selected areas, with immediate effect, Government Information Department sources said on Friday.
People belonging to the relevant age group in Grama Niladhari Divisions that are at high risk for novel coronavirus infection in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts will receive the vaccine, the sources said.
All Directors of Health Services in the Western Province, Regional Directors of Health Services in the Colombo and Gampaha districts and Chief Medical Officers of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) have been directed to identify the high-risk areas to proceed with the inoculation program.
The Director-General of Health Services has given instructions to work in coordination with the Epidemiology Unit to implement the vaccination program for people aged 30 years and above in the identified areas.
Officers in charge of the vaccination centres in the selected high-risk Grama Niladhari Divisions have been instructed to ensure that only the people belonging to the area are vaccinated.
Covid-19 infections registered in Sri Lanka crossed 82,000 as 247 more persons were tested positive on Friday.
Some 82,180 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the country as of Friday night. Recoveries from the virus rose to 77,625 with over 660 being discharged from hospitals.
However, 4,296 active cases are still under medical care at selected hospitals and treatment centres across the island.
Sri Lanka’s death toll due to the virus stands at 459.