Kitgum runs out of Covid-19 vaccines

Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kitgum district has run out of Covid-19 vaccines. The district received 1,571 doses of the Chinese vaccine Sinovac early this month. This was in addition to 1,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that had been supplied by the Ministry of Health in August.

The acting Kitgum District Health Officer, Dr. Henry Okello Otto told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Tuesday that both stocks of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines got used up on Thursday last week. He says that the stock out follows an overwhelming demand for COVID-19 vaccination by the populace in the district.

Kitgum district launched the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of teachers and non-teaching staff early this month. The exercise targeted 1,189 teachers in the district and 640 within the municipality.

More than 400 teachers in the municipality and some 500 in the district have so far been vaccinated against coronavirus disease, according to health officials. Dr. Otto also notes that an intensive sensitization campaign including mobile vaccination camps helped to improve vaccine uptake.

According to reports from the district COVID-19 task force, some 383 people received COVID-19 jabs thanks to the mobile vaccination drive that targeted locals in hard-to-reach communities of Labongo Akwang, Namokora, and Mucwini sub-counties.

Dr. Otto says they are already working round the clock to request the health ministry for more vaccines to facilitate the vaccination of the priority groups especially teachers.

Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech who also doubles as the Chairperson COVID-19 taskforce, says that grass-root mobilization by local leaders in villages is greatly helping to boost uptake of the vaccine.

He notes that they have already received notification from the Health Ministry about the disbursement of more vaccines to the district. According to Komakech, the district is expected to receive AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Moderna vaccines from the ministry.

He says that although the quantities of Sinovac and Moderna vaccines to be delivered are yet to be disclosed, 2,910 doses of the vaccine consignment will be AstraZeneca targeting people for second jabs.

Kitgum district has so far received 7,961 doses of COVID-19 vaccines out of which 6,390 were AstraZeneca and 1,571 were the Sinovac vaccine since the vaccination kicked off in March this year.

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