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Busia, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health authorities in Busia municipality have halted the COVID-19 vaccination exercise because of the ongoing cholera vaccination. On Monday, Busia district received 2,432 doses of AstraZeneca and 2,737 doses of Sinovac vaccines for the mass vaccination of teachers.
However, the District Health Officer Dr. Mathias Wabwire Panyako, says that they have decided to suspend the vaccination of teachers in Busia municipality from September 6 to 19th due to cholera vaccination exercise.
“This is to avoid side effects that may cause illness or sudden deaths because of too many vaccines in the body. It is part of advice from the ministry of health. The two weeks period is to enable the body to gain and be free of any other jab,” he said.
He explained that the ongoing vaccination of teachers and non-teaching staff that started outside the municipality on Monday would continue as planned. The district has gazetted three schools including Busia S.S. in the municipality, Busitema University in Busia North and Lumino high school in Busia South constituency as vaccination centers.
He encouraged teachers to embrace the COVID-19 vaccination for their own safety, saying many people have abandoned the Standard Operating Procedures-SOP.
While launching the cholera vaccination exercise on Monday, Dr. Allan Muruta, the Commissioner of Epidemiology and Surveillance warned that Busia district is in danger of the third wave of COVID-19 because of the abuse of SOPs and their proximity to the border.
Mathew Tusubira, the Deputy Busia Resident District Commissioner says that the suspension of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise will enable them to fully supervise the exercise when it starts.
Aggrey Mayende, the chairman of Busia secondary school head teacher’s association says that some teachers are still reluctant to take the COVID-19 jab because of myths around the vaccine. He appealed to the Health Ministry and the government to clear the air.
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