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WHO promises 20 % of Sri Lanka’s vaccine requirements
There is nothing to worry. If you are ill, don’t panic but seek treatment at a hospital. There is no stigma attached to the coronavirus. All health facilities are available and deaths can be prevented, was the earnest plea sent out by the newly-appointed State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle.
“If there is any issue, go to the health sector as there is nothing to worry about. Do not worry about leaving your family, as arrangements have been made to take young children with you. So seek treatment, as otherwise the consequences could be severe,” said Dr. Fernandopulle during a wide-ranging interview with the Sunday Times on Thursday afternoon.
Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle
She urges mothers with young children who may fall ill not to worry, as they can take them along with them. She does understand their concerns as she herself has become a grandmother recently and we meet her in her home down Longdon Place, Colombo, amidst her busy official duties and family commitments like helping to bathe the newborn.
Her granddaughter who is just three weeks old has not been named yet, smiles Dr. Fernandopulle, when we ask for the little one’s name.
Getting back to official matters, when asked what her plans for COVID-19 control are, the State Minister says that she is awaiting the gazette which would specify her duties.
“I am still not clear on my subject areas, so it is too early to comment. I think most probably when we say prevention it means vaccination. According to the information that I have gathered, I will be responsible for the vaccination part,” she says.
With regard to vaccines, according to Dr. Fernandopulle, there are different schools of thoughts. Current reports indicate that the Pfizer/BioNTechvaccine (administered in the United Kingdom) had adverse allergic reactions in some people.
“We are awaiting all efficacy studies and the decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) which should prequalify the vaccines. While the Pfizer vaccine requires a cold chain maintenance of up to minus 70 degrees and two doses annually, the cost also needs to be considered. Even in the UK, this vaccine is only for emergency use and for the vulnerable elderly,” she points out.
Dr. Fernandopulle says that the WHO has promised 20% of Sri Lanka’s requirement and “we intend to use it for high-risk groups such as those above 60 years of age, those with co-morbidities (non-communicable diseases – NCDs) and frontline workers such as health, police and tri-forces personnel”.
Where the infection may have started
Pointing out that she thinks that what Sri Lanka is facing now is our first local outbreak (where a case from Brandix was identified through the Health Ministry’s surveillance system at the Gampaha Hospital), the State Minister says that what we thought was our first outbreak was linked to imported cases. Now the infection is in pockets of the community, all of which are linked to the Minuwangoda-Peliyagoda cluster. It is not widespread (so no full community transmission), but just clusters in the community.
The Ukranian flight crew link
As suspicions that the current infections may have begun with a Ukranian flight crew which had been quarantined at a hotel in Seeduwa came to the fore again, Dr. Fernandopulle pointed out that MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised this issue in Parliament.
Dr. Fernandopulle said: “I believe the Health Ministry and even the intelligence services have traced the link and reported that a Ukranian flight crew (as flights were still coming in) was under quarantine at this hotel. They have information that the hotel employees had contracted the virus from the crew.The hotel knew the quarantine requirements but there had been a leak which then led to the Minuwangoda cluster.
“A study done by Prof. Neelika Malavige of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura supported information on the virus strain being of European origin (from Denmark/that area), which was very virulent compared to the previous strains. That is how the connection was established.”
When would the current wave be brought under control?
Stressing that they need a lot of public support to bring the infection under control, the State Minister concedes that it is difficult to say when. This is why they are appealing to the people not to move around unnecessarily.
“Even when we go for some necessity, we always have to wear a mask, keep our hands clean and keep our distance. We must assume that there may be COVID-19 positive people around. Being positive doesn’t mean that the person has done anything wrong, it is just an infection. There shouldn’t be any stigma attached to it. But we must remember that 80% of positive people are asymptomatic,” she said.
Referring to deaths occurring at home, she said that some people are reluctant to access health services because of the burial vs cremation issue. It is only when COVID-19 deaths occur that cremations take place. Until there is clear evidence and discussions with technical experts, they have to go ahead with the Sri Lankan law.
Opening of airports
Discussions are underway about opening airports for tourists under strict health guidelines. Even though January 1 is the tentative date, we have to look at epidemiological trends. However, there is a need to resume tourism as the economic losses for the country are too great. This has to be done taking all safety precautions, she said.
| Restrict mobility during the season With regard to the festive season, State Minister Fernandopulle said that “we should be careful and restrict mobility like we did during the New Year, Vesak, Poson, Ramadan and Deepavali”.(See the guidelines for Christmas on our web edition sundaytimes.lk) The so-called syrup for COVID-19 Pointing out that there could be the danger of a new cluster emerging as large crowds had gathered in Kegalle to get the paniya (syrup), Dr. Fernandopulle said that the Health Ministry will not allow drugs to be dispensed until their efficacy and safety are proven scientifically. The ministry is having discussions and has appointed a committee to do a scientific research and get results to prove or disprove whether the syrup kills the virus or not. “All drugs being dispensed under the western medicine system have been tested and their dosages, side-effects,contraindications are known,” she said, adding, however, that one can’t stop people taking certain things. “We have been taking koththamalli and other stuff for common colds. So if you want to do it, there is no stopping you. The only worry is that people will take this syrup and get a false sense of protection.” Explaining that it is only vaccines that can prevent you from getting a disease, she added that it has been scientifically proven that Zinc and Vitamin D can boost immunity and increase the immune response against COVID-19. Will private hospitals be permitted to treat COVID-19 patients? “Not yet, to my knowledge. But we may have to in the long run under strict health guidelines. No decision has been taken yet,” added Dr. Fernandopulle.
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| WHO reviewing data on vaccine for possible listing for emergency useThe World Health Organization (WHO) is aware that the United Kingdom regulator (MHRA – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) has issued an ‘emergency use authorization’ for the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 supplied by Pfizer and BioNTech. The WHO has received the data on the vaccine from the manufacturer and is reviewing it for possible listing for emergency use, said the WHO’s Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Razia Pendse, when asked about the latest development in the UK. This week, the UK began injecting the Pfizer potential vaccine to its people, with the first being a 90-year-old woman. Dr. Pendse explains that a WHO emergency use listing will allow countries to authorize the vaccine for national emergency use and could open the door to international supplies of the vaccine through global procurers (such as UNICEF). “The WHO is also in discussions with MHRA on the possibility of accessing some of the information from their assessment, which could expedite WHO’s emergency listing. In the meantime, WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) is also reviewing the vaccine and formulating policy recommendations on how best to use it,” she adds. Christmas guidelines to go on web edition The Health Ministry on December 9 issued a guideline with regard to the upcoming Christmas festivities.
1. Limit shopping excursions this season. 2. Ensure that only one family member,and not the whole family, goes out for Christmas shopping. 3. As far as possible, buy what you need from shops close to you, at a time when there are only a few other buyers on the premises. 4. Refrain from organizing Christmas parties and other events at which people will congregate. 5. When exchanging Christmas greetings, refrain from kissing each other. Instead, be mindful of maintaining personal distance. 6. The elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are more susceptible to the virus, so do not allow them to congregate freely with other people and limit entertaining in your homes. 7. Maintain appropriate distance while standing in lines in shops. If someone is not adhering to maintaining distance, it is your right and duty to correct them. 8. Whenever there is a possibility for ordering goods online, please use that facility. 9. Refrain from visiting relatives and going on trips. 10. Ensure that everytime you leave the house, you wear a mask, maintain physical and social distancing and employ hand hygiene frequently. |