By Ritah Kemigisa
The Minister of Health Dr Ruth Aceng has revealed that her ministry is in the process of accrediting private health facilities to provide COVID-19 vaccination.
Updating the nation on the COVID-19 Vaccination progress so far, as well as highlighting on the one year journey in the fight against Coronavirus, Aceng said the list of these facilities will be provided once an understanding has been reached and a memorandum of understanding has been signed spelling out the modalities of the collaboration.
Aceng meanwhile says so far 32,526 people have received their first dose of the vaccine.
She has now urged all Ugandans to get vaccinated when their turn comes, assuring the public that the jabs are safe and effective.
Uganda has 964,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine which it acquired through the Covax facility and 100,000 of the doses were a donation from India.
Achieng also revealed that the Ministry of health has allowed the importation of covid 19 vaccines by organizations that are interested in vaccinating their employees.
Giving an update on COVID-19 Vaccination in the country as well as highlighting on the one year journey in the fight against COVID-19, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the decision followed several requests and proposals from corporate entities and the private sector to vaccinate their employees against covid19.
She however says the vaccines that will be imported if authorized are not for sale but only for use within the organization.
She has advised interested organizations to first write to the Director General Health Services requesting to import the vaccines which must be cleared by the World Health Organization for Emergency use and approved by the National drug Authority for use in Uganda.
The letter should indicate the number of employees and their dependents that are eligible for vaccination.
Aceng meanwhile says importation will be allowed through the National Medical Stores for purposes of maintaining the cold chain and viability of the vaccines.
