The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated that the vaccines currently being used in the ongoing mass vaccination campaign against Yellow Fever in Uganda are safe and effective.
This week, Uganda launched a seven-day national vaccination campaign against Yellow Fever as part of the global strategy to eliminate the threat of Yellow Fever epidemic. The exercise is still ongoing in 53 districts targeting 14.4 million people aged between 0 and 60 years.
“The Yellow Fever vaccine has been in existence since 1938. The vaccine is safe and effective. As a result of vaccination, many countries, have been able to eliminate Yellow Fever” WHO representative in Uganda Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam said at the launch on Thursday.
According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), 34 countries in Africa (Uganda inclusive) and 13 countries in Central and South America are either endemic for, or have regions that are endemic for Yellow Fever.
“Uganda lies within the Yellow Fever belt and the recent confirmed cases of Yellow Fever in Buvuma, Buikwe, and Wakiso serve as reminders of the need to have everyone protected against Yellow Fever, and vaccination is the most effective method” the representative stated.
This assertion was supported by local health authorities to confirm the threat of Yellow Fever disease in Uganda.
“Yellow Fever is endemic in Uganda with frequent outbreaks in various parts of the country. The yellow fever vaccine is safe and effective. A single dose provides life-long protection against the disease” Dr. Henry Mwebesa the Director of Health Services at Uganda’s Ministry of Health said.
Dr. Mwebesa made the remarks during the launch of the mass vaccination campaign on Thursday in Buikwe District. He urged communities to embrace the preventive vaccination initiative.
According to Uganda’s ministry of health, a person gets one dose for life-long protection and therefore, it is important for everyone aged 1-60 years old to get vaccinated and protect themselves from the deadly Yellow Fever disease.
Health officials encourage all parents and caretakers to ensure their child receives the vaccine during the campaign, but adults also need to take it as well.