Covid-19 Vaccination Resumes

The ministry of health says it has resumed vaccination against Covid-19.

The exercise was meant to resume yesterday but there delays in delivery of vaccines to immunization points. “We are in the process of receiving more Covid-19 vaccines from the National Medical Stores,” Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) said yesterday, clarifying why resumption had been delayed in city divisions.

“These are still undergoing Administrative and Logistical clearances. Our teams are working around the clock to ensure that Vaccination starts tomorrow 10 August 2021.”

Immunization will be conducted at 32 points in five divisions in Kampala.

Uganda recently received 286,080 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and 300,000 from Sinovac.

Uganda has been using AstraZeneca vaccines, which were brought in three phases, with 100,000 doses in the first shipment, 864,000 in the second, and 175,200 in the third.

As of August 7, a total of 1,155,265 doses had been administered in the East African country, according to the ministry of health.

Uganda's strategy is mass vaccination of the eligible population (22 million, representing 49.8%) as a means of optimal control of the pandemic and full opening up of the economy.

The government is also securing to access vaccines for the eligible population 18 years and above.

In addition, consideration will be given to children aged 12-15 years with comorbidities.

The Ministry of Health has generated a priority list of COVID 19 vaccines that can be used in the country and they include: AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer BioNTech, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Moderna Sputnik V and Sputnik Lite.

Apart from Moderna and Sputnik, emergency use of the rest has been authorized by National Drug Authority. Vaccines are being secured through the Covax facility, African Union, manufacturers and donations.

Uganda has already placed an order 9 million doses through COVAX and it's awaiting feedback on availability. Another order of 2 million has been made through Johnson and Johnson through AU with a down payment of $3 million.

Embassies have also been ordered to search for available vaccines on the market. Organizations have also been permitted to procure vaccines and vaccinate their staff after approval from National Medical Stores.