Two Uganda Covid-19 Vaccine Candidates Reach Animal Trial Stage

Two of the four COVID-19 vaccines currently developed in Uganda are reaching the animal trial phase, while one other is one stage away. The vaccines manufactured under the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE), an initiative of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are using different technologies; One is using the ChAdOx1 also known as the Adenovirus-vectored technology, …

Covid-19 vaccination campaigns 21 times more pricey than routine immunisations

Despite being the most ill-planned exercise executed by the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI), the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination is the most expensive campaign carried out in the last ten years, according to officials.  In the past four years, Uganda has carried out at least two mass vaccination campaigns including the Measles/Rubella and Polio…

Health workers call for increased HIV prevention methods roll out

By Malik Fahad in Masaka Health workers plead for more uptake of HIV/Aids prevention measures. Researchers and health workers in greater Masaka region have embarked on a campaign to mobilize people to increase uptake of HIV/AIDS prevention methods. Led by Dr. Jonathan Kitonsa an HIV/AIDS Researcher at Medical Research Center (MRC) Masaka center, says that…

Medics warn against growing resistance of anti fungal drugs in pregnant women

Doctors have warned of an increase in resistance to common antifungal drugs used for the treatment of infections like candidiasis. Drug-resistant tuberculosis is also a growing phenomenon, while malaria parasites also are becoming resistant to once-effective first-line anti-malarial treatments. The World Health Organisation has already warned that over four million Africans a year could die as…

First real-world study reports effectiveness of BBV152 against symptomatic COVID-19 in India

Study includes more than 2,700 healthcare workers in Delhi, India, who were symptomatic and underwent RT-PCR testing for COVID-19. Findings suggest 50% vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses of BBV152. This vaccine effectiveness is lower than the vaccine efficacy suggested by Bharat Biotech’s phase 3 randomised control trial results. The authors note several…