The permanent secretary Ministry of Health , Dr. Diana Atwine has revealed that the Ministry is yet to confirm when the next batch of covid19 jabs will arrive in Uganda.
Atwine says they are still in talks with the COVAX facility that is responsible for the distribution of vaccines in African countries on where to get the vaccines from.
The government had initially planned to make a deposit of Shillings 51 billion to COVAX for 2.1 million vaccines.
However, due to a global shortage of AstraZeneca caused by a ban on the importation of the vaccine from India, Uganda will now not be able to receive any of the paid-for vaccines in June.
Those vaccinated in mid-April and are supposed to get their vaccine at the end of June might not get their second jab as planned yet studies show that for one to get 100 percent protection, two jabs of AstraZeneca are needed.
Atwine says “Uptake of the Jabs has increased, they have not yet allocated other vaccines to us.
Despite the looming vaccine shortage, Dr. Atwine says that they will continue vaccinating those who are willing until they exhaust the available doses.
At the moment, persons who received their first jabs in March and early April are getting their second dose.
Meanwhile Covid cases have continued to surge as Uganda battle with the second wave of the deadly virus.
The Ministry of Health today reported 1083 newly registered cases countrywide, 832 of which were got in Kampala.
Uganda has registered 2612 new cases whereas Kampala alone accounts for 1,883 of the cases.
The number of registered cases of covid 19 now stands at 49,759 with 365 deaths.
