More Covid Vaccines Received From France, Belgium; Pfizer Administration Begins Next Week

The ministry of health on Thursday picked up AstraZeneca vaccines, with 501,153 doses coming from France and 153,900 doses flown in by Belgium.

They are both donations and they bring the total doses acquired by Uganda to 5,129,243, of which 1,777,685 have been used.

The health ministry’s spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona has revealed that Pfizer vaccines will be delivered to 58 points vaccination points spread in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso for use starting Monday.

The country received over 1.6 million doses from the U.S.

He also noted that Moderna will be deployed outside the Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Uganda's strategy is to vaccinate 22 million people, translating to 49.8% of the population. The first phase will cover people with comorbidities that are 18 years and above, elderly aged 50 and above, health workers, teachers, and security personnel.

In the second phase, anyone 18 years and above will be immunized and, in the third phase, children below 18 will be immunized following recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee.

To re-open businesses like bars and entertainment events, the president said that 4.8 million people in the priority population will have to be vaccinated. These include health workers, teachers, security personnel, elderly persons of 50 years and above, those below 50 years with comorbidities and 330,000 students in post-secondary institutions aged 18 years and above.