Uganda has received an additional 335,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The doses were donated by Ireland and received by government officials at the ministry of health and National Medical Stores-NMS.
Nicole McHugh, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland handed over the vaccine doses to the government through Margaret Muhanga, the State Minister for Primary Healthcare at Entebbe International Airport. McHugh says vaccination is one of the most effective strategies for reducing new infections of COVID-19.
McHugh says that Ireland is championing the re-opening of schools in Uganda, and that they were compelled to donate vaccines to ensure teachers and non-teaching staff get vaccinated.
Muhanga says the latest batch of 335,000 doses brings the total number of AstraZeneca doses received since March to 3,143,193. Uganda has also received other doses, which include 1,647,270 doses of Pfizer, 647,080 of Moderna, and 300,000 doses of Sinovac.
Muhanga is optimistic that Uganda will soon hit its target of vaccinating 4.8 million people who include medical workers, security personnel, teachers, the elderly, and people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension by end of 2021.
As a result, she says the AstraZeneca doses donated by Ireland and other countries namely France and Belgium will be administered to people who are due for their second jab across the country.
Muhanga says the health ministry is currently undertaking massive COVID-19 vaccination campaigns for people aged 18 years and above across the country to ensure maximum utilization of the doses.