Uni students can obtain COVID vaccine from nearest university

University students between the ages of 20 and 30 can obtain their COVID-19 vaccine from the university nearest to their residential area, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said.

Accordingly, a vaccination drive with the Health Ministry’s assistance will take place from October 11 to 15 at all state universities.

Chairman of the UGC Prof. Sampath Amaratunga said the UGC expects all students to be vaccinated by the end of October, so that academic activities can commence in November.

Last week, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said only about 48-50 per ent of those between 20 and 30 years have received their first dose and 18 per cent of them have got their second doses of the COVID vaccine.

There are about 150,000-160,000 undergraduate students in state universities and about 100,000 students in non-state higher education institutes. Vaccination hesitancy among the youth has triggered concern among health authorities.