COVID-19 Vaccination Starts in Mid-March, No National ID, Forget your Dose

The Minister for Health, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng revealed that Uganda will receive it’s first COVID-19 vaccine doses this week but citizens without National Identification cards will not be vaccinated.

While addressing media at the Ministry headquarters in Kampala on COVID-19 updates, Minister said that Uganda is receiving it’s first batch of Virus vaccine equivalent to 864000 doses of AstraZeneca on Friday 05, March 2021 and vaccination scheduled for 10th March 2021. 

Before the ministry of Health announced that, they have ordered for 18 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India.

Uganda is targeting to first vaccinate 49.6% of the population (21,936,011 people) but in phased manner but it’s for people above eighteen years of age, the vaccine for those below is yet to be completed.

“The vaccine available up to now are not yet authorized for those persons younger than 18 years of age in whom research is still going. If vaccine become available for below the age of 18, the ministry will update it’s plans accordingly and inform the public.” Dr. Ruth Aceng said.

Aceng said that the vaccination program will be rolled out in three phases and  first group to get the jab are the frontline workers, health workers (public, private Not for Profit) and Private for Profit) PFP) estimated at 150000, Security personnel(UPDF, Police, and Prisons) estimated at 250000.

The other phase shall be rolled out to age groups 18 and 50 in a staggered manner until 49.6% of the Ugandan population is vaccinated, the second group will be teachers for both public and private schools.

The program will be guided by epidemiology of the disease.

Dr. Aceng also revealed that the eligible people for vaccination will be required to provide National Identification Card in case of Ugandan citizens, and passport in case of non Ugandans.

The vaccination will be voluntary upon signing a consent form and will be and it will be free of charge.

Government Health Centres IIIs, IVs, District Hospitals, Regional Referrals, National Referral hospitals and specialized Institutions have been designed as vaccination service points in each district and city.

As of today, Uganda have recorded 40,367 cases and 334 deaths.