Ministry Of Health To Release New Covid-19 Vaccination Plan Amidst Lock Down

The Ministry of Health has said it will soon provide a comprehensive plan for Ugandans ready to receive their second dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the priority groups outlined by the Government to receive the vaccine.

The pronouncement was made by Dr Charles Olaro on behalf of Director General Health Services, Dr Henry Mwebesa in a Saturday statement providing guidance on the movement of health workers and patients during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“On COVID-19 vaccination, the Ministry of Health will in due course be providing a comprehensive plan for those due for their second dose and for the priority groups,” Olaro said.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme was hampered after President Museveni imposed a 42 day lockdown on Friday to contain the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the ministry of health, Uganda has vaccinated a total of 869,915 people, which accounts for 90.2% of the 964,000 doses received in the first and second batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

On March 6, 2021, the Ministry of Health received 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, shipped via the COVAX facility – the world’s facility for universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The government would later receive another 100,000 doses donated by the Government of India, rising the total number of doses received to 964,000 doses.
Of the, 869,915 Ugandans who have been vaccinated, only 57,797 (6.6%) have received both first and second dose.

On Thursday, June 17, Uganda received an additional 175,200 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by the French government through the COVAX.
This means that Uganda has so far received 1,139,200 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

While addressing the nation at State House Nakasero on Friday, President Museveni said, “We are expecting additional 688,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in early August.”

The President directed that these doses be prioritized to give a second dose to those who have got already got their first dose.