Uganda is set to receive 647, 010 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID19 this month, the Health Ministry has confirmed.
According to Emmanuel Ainebyona, the Health Ministry Spokesperson, the doses are a donation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) under the COVAX facility.
He confirms the offer of the doses.
COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.
National Medical Stores (NMS) General Manager, Moses Kamabare, yesterday revealed that the organisation has the capacity to store the Pfizer vaccine.
It is stored at -70 degrees.
NMS already serves as a regional storage centre for the Ebola vaccine which is kept under -80 degrees.
Uganda has vaccinated 1, 058, 084 people using the AstraZeneca jabs.
President Yoweri Museveni recently revealed that government was arranging for the procurement of Johnson & Johnson doses in addition to China’s Sinovac and those from Cuba.
Government’s target is to have at least 22 million people inoculated before restrictions put in place to limit the spread of COVID19, can be lifted.