Uganda is on the move to procure 18 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine from the COVAX facility at a cost of 5.5 dollars per dose.
This is according to the statement issued by the Health Ministry’s Director General Health Services, Dr Henry Mwebesa on Thursday refuting media reports that Government gave clearance to some companies to supply vaccines to the Government.
Dr. Mwebesa said that on July 19, 2021, Cabinet approved an inter Ministerial Committee also known as Vaccine Acquisition Committee appointed by Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng to guide decisions with respect to direct sourcing of vaccines.
This, he said, was due to the dire need for COVID-19 vaccines in the country as a result of global vaccine shortage.
Dr. Mwebesa added that on August 11, 2021, the Ministry of Health received an offer of availability of vaccines from the COVAX facility.
“The vaccine acquisition committee reviewed the offer and recommended it to the Ministry of Health to pursue it, a cheaper and more reliable option,” he said.
“The Ministry of Health has since signed a commitment letter with COVAX facility for a total of 18 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine at a cost of 5.5 USD per dose under this arrangement,” he added.
Today, Thursday, the Ministry of Health announced that it received a donation of 299,520 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Government of UK under the dose sharing arrangement.
The vaccines were received by State Minister for Primary Health Care, Margaret Muhanga, and will be distributed by National Medical Stores (NMS) to health facilities.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, a total of 1,248,861 doses have been administered.
Uganda plans to vaccinate at least 21 million people before it fully lift the lockdown.
Government also plans to vaccinate all learners above 12 to 18 years to reopen schools.
This week, the Minister of Education and Sports and First Lady, Janet Museveni rallied teachers, non teaching staff, and all learners above the age of 18 to go for a COVID-19 jab, which will facilitate the reopening of education institutions.
“We appeal to the public to join us in efforts of mobilizing our teachers and learners aged 18 years and above in all the Education Institutions of Learning – both public and private, to go for their COVID-19 vaccination jab. The task of mobilizing our teachers and learners to get vaccinated cannot be left to the Ministry responsible for Education alone,” she said.
