Cabinet has resolved to acquire 18 million doses of the COVID -19 vaccines Astra Zeneca from the Serum Institute in India. The vaccines that are slated to enter the country between the end of February or early March 2021 will be given to frontline health workers, teachers, security personnel, elder persons, and those with underlying […]
Cabinet has resolved to acquire 18 million doses of the COVID -19 vaccines Astra Zeneca from the Serum Institute in India.
The vaccines that are slated to enter the country between the end of February or early March 2021 will be given to frontline health workers, teachers, security personnel, elder persons, and those with underlying health conditions among others.
The procurement of the vaccines is through the COVAX facility which is managed by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI).
Cabinet sat on Monday to discuss schools and institutions reopening at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic and a statement was released on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Center-UMC.
“The Ministry of Health working together with the National Medical Stores (NMS) has placed an order of eighteen million (18,000,000) doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India,” the statement from cabinet reads.
Each individual in the targeted bracket receiving the vaccine will take 2 doses costing USD 14 per person with each dose acquired at 7 US dollars, approximately, 25,800 shillings.
The Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo Cabinet says both international transportation and handling costs by the National Medical Stores is 3 US dollars and totaling a vaccine regimen at 17 dollars (62,600 shs) .
“The indicative doses are expected to be available to Uganda on a quarterly basis, 35 – 40% available in Quarter 1 and 60-65% available in Quarter 2,” Ofwono Opondo noted.
