On March 5, 2021, Uganda recieved 860,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine which was shipped via COVAX facility, the World’s facility for universal access to COVID-19 vaccines. On Wednesday March 10, the vaccination process was launched at Mulago National Refferal Hospital by the Ministry of Health of Health. Health workers, security forces, Ugandans above 50 years and teachers will be the first groups to receive the vaccines.
Here is how the vaccination went in pictures.
The first batch of 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Uganda on the 5th of March 2021. It is part of the 3,552,000doses allocated to Uganda by COVAX – a global initiative aimed at equitable access to the Covid vaccines. The remaining doses are expected in the country by June 2021.
The First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, GeneralMoses Ali (right), together with the Health Minister, Hon.Ruth Aceng, arriving for the launch of the Covid-19 vaccination exercise at the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala, on March 10,2020.
A health worker preparing to administer the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine jab during the launch of the mass vaccination programme at the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala. Despite some reported side effects, both the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health issued statements about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.
Uganda’s Health Minister, Hon. Ruth Aceng, was the first Ugandan to receive the vaccine. She outlined the schedule to be followed in administering the vaccine, starting with health workers – both in public and private facilities – and all their support personnel, numbering to 150,000.
Businessman Patrick Bitature receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine jab during the launch of the mass vaccination at the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital.
Vaccination cards are given to anyone who has received the Covid-19 vaccine. Uganda requires at least 45 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to get its population of 45 million vaccinated and extra doses to cater for the refugee population in the country, according to the government statistics.
Prison wardens line up to receive their covid-19 vaccine jab. Security personnel are the second highest priority to receive the vaccine, after health workers.
A health worker registering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to be used during the vaccination exercise in Kampala.
Ambassadors and officials from the World Health Organisation interact during the launch of the Covid-19 vaccination at the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital on March 10, 2021. Mass vaccination began exactly one year after Covid was first reported in the country.
A soldier health worker signals during the vaccination exercise at the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital.
Health workers move a bed for patients who want to rest after taking the Covid-19 vaccine jab. Experience of side effects is normal after the vaccine. It shows the vaccine is teaching the body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease.
Security forces look through the list of areas where the Covid-19 vaccine will be transported. The vaccine was guarded by the security forces during all time of transportation.
Health workers preparing the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine jab during the launch of the mass vaccination at Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala, March 10, 2020.
