Obtain the booster to prevent another wave- Health Authorities

COLOMBO (News 1st); Public should obtain the booster vaccine as soon as possible to avoid another COVID-19 wave, says Physiotherapist at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sharmila de Silva.

Pointing out that although hospitals are not overcrowded as of yet and the death toll has not shown a substantial increase, Prof. de Silva stated that the number of patients reported each day is increasing, and the rate of new COVID-19 cases being reported in the country has risen sharply as well.

This sharp rise was noted amidst reports that the OMICRON variant becoming the fastest spreading variant in the country.

The Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura also stated that two sub-lineages of the variant are spreading rapidly.

Emphasizing that many people who obtained the first and second dose of the vaccine do not show the same amount of enthusiasm to obtain the third dose, Prof. de Silva mentioned that several myths regarding the vaccine have rooted in society, such as other side-effect diseases being reported due to the vaccine or infertility and impotence being a side effect of the vaccine. 

Requesting the public to not to believe in such myths, Prof. de Silva reiterated that every single person must obtain the booster dose to prevent another wave of COVID-19 in the country.