Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Three doses of COVID-19 vaccine drop hospitalization by 90% in people above 65 years of age, health experts highlighted.

According to Head of the Immunology and Molecular Medicine Department at the Sri Jayewardenepura University Prof. Neelika Malavige, hospitalization due to Omicron is also dropped by 50% with two vaccine doses in the over 65 age group.

It is the people above 65 age of who are highly susceptible to get hospitalized and succumb to the virus. Omicron in the US is commonly seen among the unvaccinated population over 65 years. This is where booster dose plays a pivotal role.

In addition, she said most ICU admissions and COVID-19 fatalities are of the unvaccinated population.

Hence, she requested all eligible individuals get themselves boosted without further delay.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama from National Institute of Infectious Diseases urged people not to be carried away by misconceptions and myths about the booster dose.

The priority of people at present should be the safety from Omicron which can be ensured with the booster dose,” he reiterated.  

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine President and National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) Physician Dr. Harsha Sathischandra said no adverse effects have so been far been reported from pregnant women and neither from any other groups. 

Thus, the booster dose is recommended for persons who are pregnant or breast-feeding,” he added.

The health experts expressed these views at a news briefing held at the Government Information Department yesterday. (Sheain Fernandopulle)