KAMPALA UGANDA: The Ministry of Health has disputed reports that plans are underway to enforce nationwide mandatory COVID-19 vaccination among children against the consent of parents.
The response from the ministry was prompted by social media posts stating that MOH is planning to vaccinate children 12 to 17 years of age against COVID-19 with or without parents’ consent, which it says is false.
“The ministry would like to reiterate that no child will be vaccinated against covid-19 against teir parents’ guardian or caretakers’ consent. This will be upheld during vaccination of children” the Director General Health Services Dr Henry Mwebesa said in a statement issued today.
The reports however come at a time when the East African country is registering a resurgence of COVID-19 cases with the latest tally from the MOH showing 119 new cases on June 8.
Since the beginning of this year, similar reports have emerged with activists saying that the unfair legal regimes targeting those ‘violating’ COVID-19 vaccine mandates should not be supported, but instead, the people should be given other options of managing the pandemic.
The MOH also noted that while government would like to boost the immunity of children against COVID-19 through vaccination, discussions are still ongoing among key stakeholders including parents on the best approach to be undertaken.
The statement indicates that the public will be updated on way forward after consultations between the MOH together with the Scientific Advisory Committee, Vaccine Advisory Committee, and cabinet.