Government has received 1,674,270 doses of Pfizer vaccine from the US Government in support of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise.
While receiving the doses valued at about $110m at Entebbe International Airport, Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Heath, said that this is the largest consignment of COVID-19 vaccines received to-date.
“We are going to continue receiving more vaccines. In fact, this Wednesday, we are going to receive more doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. Our challenge is now how to increase on the vaccine uptake. We are now going to conduct special campaigns in Kampala Metropolitan so that we increase the uptake of the vaccine,” Dr. Atwine said, adding that the Pfizer vaccine will only be administered for people in Kampala because it requires refrigeration at negative degrees which most of the health facilities upcountry do not have.
Natalie Brown, US Ambassador to Uganda said that the US government to committed to supporting Uganda in the fight against COVID-19.
The Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Margaret Muhanga implored Ugandans to take up the vaccines if government is to fully open up the economy.
“Once we vaccine the targeted number of people then we shall open up the economy including the schools because we have already planned over these next 3 months that every sector must be opened by the first week of January,” Muhanga said.
Uganda’s target is to vaccinate 22 million people, translating to 49.8% of the population. The first phase intended to cover people with comorbidities that are 18 years and above, elderly aged 50 and above, health workers, teachers, and security personnel. The second phase involves anyone who is18 years and above while the third phase, includes children below 18 following recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee. So far, only about 367,000 people have been fully vaccinated in Uganda, representing 0.8% of the fully vaccinated population.