Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has revealed that the first batch of at least 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in Uganda on March 5th, 2021.
Dr. Aceng said that vaccination will then commence on March 10th, 2021.
Dr. Aceng made these announcements in a press conference held at the Ministry of Health head offices on Tuesday afternoon.
The announcement comes almost a year after Uganda recorded its first Covid-19 cases.
Dr. Aceng said that all persons who are eligible for vaccination will be required to provide a National Identification Card in the case of Ugandan citizens or a passport in the case of non-Ugandans.
Government Health center IIIs, IVs,District Hospitals,Regional Referral,National Referral Hospitals and specialized Institutions have been designated as vaccination service points in each district and City and Dr. Aceng said that eligible persons will access their vaccines from any of these points.
She said that, “Vaccines will be given to eligible persons 8 weeks apart (56 days). However, this can be extended up to 12 weeks as recommended by WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunizations.”
The COVID-19 vaccine is given intramuscularly on the left upper arm – 0.5mls each and a team of well-trained health workers will be based at the designated service points to provide services.
Phase 2 and 3 of the COVID-19 vaccination program
Dr. Aceng said that the health ministry will roll out the vaccination program to age groups between 18 and 50 years in a staggered manner until 49.6 of all the Ugandan population is vaccinated.
Dr. Aceng however noted that this will be guided by the local epidemiology of the disease.
