KAMPALA – Dr Diana Atwine, the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary has revealed that Uganda is in its final stages to receive Coronavirus vaccine.
According to her, this was reached at by the National Task Force on Covid-19 chaired by President Yoweri Museveni during a meeting at State House, Entebbe on Saturday, January 2, 2021.
She said that Uganda will participate in the Global COVAX initiative for Covid-19 vaccine access, revealing that they have already submitted an application to this effect, which has been accepted by the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI).
“Based on the evidence available and recommendations of the Science Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health, Uganda will access the vaccine from AstraZeneca,” she said in a statement.
The meeting directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health to initiate preparation to ensure readiness to receive and expeditiously distribute the vaccine to the population.
According to Dr Atwine, the meeting found out that there had been a surge in reported cases of Covid-19 within the country (up to 88% or 22000 cases) during the last three months.
“There is an urgent need to access the Covid-19 vaccine for the people of Uganda not only as a mitigating strategy against severe disease and deaths but also a public health measure to enable a safe return to normalcy,” she said.
Atwine said that Uganda will also explore other traditional vaccine options such as the one from China, when they receive approval from the World Health Organization.
“The access of the vaccine will be done in an equitable manner starting with the most vulnerable and those at more risk.”
