He made these remarks at a recent media briefing held on April 22 at the Health Promotion Bureau. Dr. Karunapema noted that Sri Lanka’s national immunization programme has been in operation since 1978, playing a crucial role in protecting children from a wide range of diseases.
As a result of sustained vaccination efforts, diseases such as polio have been eliminated from the country. Vaccination has also significantly reduced the prevalence of many other illnesses, contributing to increased life expectancy and a decline in child mortality rates over the past 50 years.
World Immunization Week has been observed every April since 2012 under the guidance of the World Health Organization. In line with this, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, along with healthcare institutions and Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices across the country, plans to conduct a series of awareness and outreach activities throughout the coming week and month.
Dr. Karunapema emphasized that vaccines provided by the Ministry of Health since 1978 meet high-quality standards and have been consistently available without shortages over the past five decades. This achievement, he noted, is significant compared to many other countries.
Looking ahead, arrangements have been made to ensure vaccine supply through to 2030 with support from UNICEF, which will continue to deliver vaccines via its global supply chain.
He also highlighted the collaborative efforts of several key institutions involved in the immunization process, including the Epidemiology Unit, the Medical Supplies Division, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), and the Medical Research Institute (MRI). These organizations play vital roles in procurement, research, and the efficient distribution of vaccines across the island.
