COVID-19: Community Vaccination to begin in Colombo today (16)

COLOMBO (News 1st): The vaccination of people living in COVID-19 high-risk zones of the Western province and the vulnerable groups in the region will begin at the Western province in Colombo this afternoon, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said on Tuesday (Feb. 16). "The community vaccination drive for the general public will thus begin, with the aim of boosting the immunity of the community, by administering India's AstraZeneca COVISHIELD Vaccine on each individual," Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, Chief Medical Officer for Health at the Colombo Municipal Council told News 1st on Tuesday (16). Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni was hopeful that through mass inoculation, the rate of deaths and complications could be prevented and the pandemic could be contained. According to Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, apart from the medical staff, the AstraZeneca COVISHIELD Vaccine was administered to officers engaged in the garbage management process, who are recognized as part of the workforce that is at high-risk of contracting the virus. "Under the vaccination drive, both public and private sector employees of the waste management sector will receive the jab," Dr. Wijayamuni further noted.