Oct 22, Colombo: The vaccination of school children between the ages of 16 and 19 against COVID-19 will commence island wide from today (22) Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said.

Speaking to the media yesterday, the Dr. Asela Gunawardena said Provincial Directors of Health Services and the District Directors of Health Services have been issued directives in this regard.

Accordingly, Provincial and District Directors of Health Services will determine the implementation of the vaccination program for school children between the ages of 16 and 19.

He further said that a decision will be taken on determining which schools and which age group will be vaccinated first in collaboration with the Principal, Zonal Director of Education, District Director of Health Services and the Medical Officers of the relevant area.

The Director General of Health Services said the decision was taken after discussions with the Department of Education and that no time limit has been set for the vaccination and that the vaccination will take place in schools.

The Director General of Health Services further stated that the time frame and the number of children to be summoned will be decided after discussions with the relevant Medical Officer of Health and the Principal.

Required stocks of Pfizer vaccine doses have already been distributed to all districts by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Gunawardena said only one dose of the vaccine will be administered.

Vaccination program for school children between the ages of 18 and 19 with the Pfizer vaccine has been implemented covering all districts of the country.