KAMPALA – The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine has refuted claims on the vaccine cost that was making rounds on social media saying the ministry will communicate accordingly.
She made the remarks on January 7, 2021 at the Uganda Media Centre while addressing journalists.
According to Atwine, Uganda, like other low and middle income countries will access the COVID-19 vaccine through the COVID-19 Global Vaccine Access Facility (COVAX Facility).
She said the facility is negotiating the price of the vaccine on behalf of almost 90 LMICs including Uganda.
“No single country under COVAX has negotiated the price of the vaccine with the manufacturer directly. All countries will procure the vaccine at the same price as agreed between COVAX Facility and the manufacturers,” she said.
Atwine told journalists that the cost of USD 405 Million is a working estimate of the National Deployment Vaccination Plan(NDVP) to roll out the COVID-19 Vaccine. The Ministry would like to reiterate that this is a working estimate as we await final communication from the COVAX Facility,” she said.
She further revealed that each manufacturer of the approved COVID-19 vaccine has a different cost.
She urged the public to desist from spreading what she termed as misleading information and creating unnecessary and unwarranted speculations most especially regarding the health of the population.
“Always seek to verify information from the authorities,” said Atwiine.
