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COVID-19 Updates: Ugandans to Receive the First Batch of COVID-19 Vaccines Next Week

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By Stuart Bogere

KIU, Main Campus - Government, through Ministry of Health, has announced the arrival of the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines against COVID-19 on 5th March 2021.

The arrival of the initial batch of 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines and vaccination is scheduled to kick start on 10th March 2021. 

According to Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng, government has secured 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine which will arrive in the country by today. She stated that this is part of the 3,552,000 doses of the vaccine that was allocated to Uganda by the COVAX program and that the remaining 2,668,000 doses will arrive by June 2021.

She added that Uganda targets to vaccinate 49.6% of the population which is about 21,936,011 people, in a phased manner. Each phase is planned to cover 20% of the population which is about 4,387,202 people. The eligible population lies in the age range of 18 years and above. 

The targeted groups include about 150,00 front line health workers, about 250,000 security personnels, 550,000 teachers and 3,348,000 elderly aged 50 years and above, followed by persons with underlying health conditions aged below 50 years.

Uganda will need 45 million doses of the vaccine to vaccinate a population of 22 million and extra doses to cater for the refugee population.

Government directly purchased 18 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, and 400,000 doses will be received by mid-March 2021.