The Ministry of Health (MOH) is moving to vaccinate people 70yrs for COVID-19.

Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng confirmed the development in a statement released to the press on Thursday.

Acheng explains that they have made a change from the previous plan to vaccinate 3.3 million people aged 50 years to now 70 years above because of limited stock.

Acheng says the of the available doses, 700,000 are reserved for teachers and health workers.

The MOH has also confirmed that 7,920 people have so far received their first jab of the vaccine and that they have distributed 663, 520 doses to all the districts across the country. 

3.3 million persons of advanced age had been previously targeted to benefit from the vaccination.

Uganda received a total of 964,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine through the Covax facility and the Indian government.

A total of  150,000 health workers in public and private facilities and 550,000 teachers were registered for the 1st phase of vaccination that began on 10th March 2021.

Health workers were expected to be vaccinated between March 10 to 15 and while teachers begun on March 16 to 19.

The health Ministry also clarified that the vaccination is safe for any Ugandan aged 18 years and above regardless of whether they have suffered from COVID-19 before.