By Rogers Wanambwa 

KIU, Main Campus – Uganda is slated to receive an additional 974,000 COVID-19 vaccines in July, according to the Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng.

Aceng revealed this at the 4th National Prayer against COVID-19 held at State House, Entebbe on Friday. She further said that although the government is committed to vaccinating 21 million Ugandans, priority is now on the 4.8 million at the highest risk of contracting the disease. 

The 974,000 doses are expected to arrive in two batches; one of 688,000 and another 285,600 doses will come later on. This adds to the 1,139,200 doses that have already been imported into the country. 

The minister, while addressing the President, said that “Despite the delays brought upon us by global factors beyond our control, the government with your support Your Excellency is doing all it takes to ensure the country gets all the vaccines in addition to the 1,139,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine secured in the country so far, and in the final stage of administration to Ugandans.”
“In the interim, the country is expecting two more modest consignments of 688,000 doses and 285,600 doses in the first week of July and mid-July,” Aceng added. 

Only 869,915 people have been vaccinated in the country (90.2% of the 964,000 doses received). However, of those who received the first vaccine, only 57,797 (6.6%) have received a second dose. 

On June 17th, the country received 175,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by the French government through the COVAX facility. 

Internet Photo