Uganda began a roll out of a second-dose inoculation for its citizens against COVID-19 starting today May 21, 2021, the ministry of Health said.
This means that all residents in Uganda who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine vaccine and completed 8 weeks should visit a designated vaccination facility and receive their second dose.
According to the ministry, the move follows the decision of Ministry of Health Strategic Committee on COVID-19 in consultation with SAC and VAC, to have persons who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine start receiving the second dose.
Through COVAX facility, Uganda received 964,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for the ongoing vaccine roll out in the country which began on March 10, 2021.
However, the country has experiences slow uptake of the vaccines in its population a trend attributed misinformation on the safety of the safety of the vaccines.
By Wednesday, 46,6832 doses had so far been administered raising fears that the vaccines could expire come July this year.
After receiving her second jab, the outgoing Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng reiterated that the vaccine is safe and effective. Dr Aceng also urged all those eligible to receive the second dose of the vaccine from the nearest vaccination facility.