The Luwero District Health Department is gearing up to launch a mass vaccination campaign against yellow fever. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with various partners, has scheduled the initiative to cover 53 districts, including Luwero, starting from Tuesday, April 2nd to 8th.
The goal is to eliminate yellow fever from Uganda. The vaccination drive targets individuals aged 1-60 years, with a single dose administered for lifelong immunity.
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It presents symptoms such as fever, jaundice, and bleeding from various body parts, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Dr. Innocent Nkonwa, the District Health Officer of Luwero District, confirmed the receipt and distribution of the vaccines to lower units in preparation for the campaign. The district aims to vaccinate approximately 145,000 people.
Dr. Nkonwa stated that the first four days of the campaign will focus on vaccinating all students in the district, with schools being notified that the vaccination is mandatory.
The remaining three days will be dedicated to vaccinating residents at selected locations in parishes or through door-to-door visits in villages, aiming to reach the target population of 145,000 out of the projected 559,000 residents in the district.
He emphasized that individuals above 60 years, children under nine months, those with HIV/AIDS, allergies to eggs, and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers will be exempt from the vaccination.
Robert Majanja Ssekubuulwa, the District Councillor for Luwero Town Council, expressed concerns that despite the safety of the vaccines, some parents may resist vaccinating their children due to misconceptions.
Daniel Kyaterekera, the District Secretary for Education, warned that parents obstructing health workers from vaccinating their children could face prosecution under the Public Health Act.
The government aims to vaccinate 14,437,098 people (90% of the eligible population), including refugees, in phases. Despite the integration of yellow fever vaccination into routine immunization schedules, national coverage remains at 29%.
Uganda is situated within the yellow fever endemic zone in Africa and has experienced several outbreaks. Cases have been recorded in Luwero, Masaka, Kalangala, Rukungiri, Kabong, Moyo, Obongi, Maracha, and Buliisa.
The most recent cases were reported in Nebbi in 2021 and Wakiso in 2022.