Employees in the front line of the aviation and airports sector will get their second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from today.
All employees attached to Katunayake, Mattala and Ratmalana airports will get their second jab of the vaccine from today. The staff of SriLankan Airlines will be covered as well.
Following a special request made by State Minister of Aviation and Investment Zone Development D.V. Chanaka to the Health Ministry, around 10,000 employees will get their second vaccine.
“Considering the current spike in COVID-19 cases in the country and recognising the staff of aviation and airports as frontline workers, we sought approval from the Health Ministry,” the State Minister said.
The first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine was given to the aviation and airport staff in February this year and with the commencement of the second dose of vaccinations today, the segment completes the full vaccination program.
Nationally, around 194,905 Covishield doses have been provided under the second dose rollout that began on 23 April. This was as a follow-up to 925,242 Covishield first doses provided since 29 January.
(FT)