President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated the need for the population to continue to observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for COVID-19.
He outlined the need for continued hand washing, and hand hygiene, no shaking hands and no hugging, wearing face masks when in enclosed places like places of worship, conferences, meetings, crusades, which are exaggerated during the festive season.
Museveni said people with symptoms should not go to any events and should seek medical attention at heath facilities where you will be tested for COVID-19. “People must continue to vaccinate against coronavirus since it is a life-saving intervention.”
He said all eligible person (12 years and above) should be vaccinated and all those who were last vaccinated more than 6 months ago, should immediately receive a booster dose.
As of 18th December 2022 the number of people vaccinated in Uganda stood at 19.2 million (43%) who had received a single dose, 6.6 million people had received two doses and only 453,000 people had received booster doses.
This was against an eligible population of 28.5 million with 22 million people (82%)18 years and above and 6.5 million (24%) aged 12-17 years. He encouraged Ugandans to get vaccinated.
This is at the backdrop of the WHO advise during the festive season. Dr Thierno Balde, the Incident Manager for WHO Africa Regional Office during a webinar cross border science café for science and health journalists in Africa cautioned on increasing COVID-19 incidences during the festive season.