Luwero district to vaccinate 145,000 against yellow fever

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Luwero district health department is set to carry out mass vaccination against yellow fever.

The Ministry of Health with support from partners has planned to conduct mass vaccination in 53 districts including Luwero district starting from Tuesday 2nd-8th April in a bid to eliminate yellow fever from Uganda.  The government intends to vaccinate people from 1-60 years and a single dose is administered in a lifetime.

Yellow fever is a viral infection that is spread to humans through a bite from a mosquito carrying the virus. The disease causes fever, yellowing of the eyes, and bleeding from any body opening including the mouth, nose, and eyes among others.

Doctor Innocent Nkonwa the District Health Officer of Luwero District explains that the drugs have already been received and distributed to lower units ahead of the vaccination exercise that will target 145,000 people.

Nkonwa says that the district has resolved to use the first four days to vaccinate all the learners in the district and the schools have been informed that the exercise is mandatory for all.

Nkonwa adds that residents will be vaccinated in the last three days of the week and this will be conducted in selected places in either parishes or door-to-door in the villages to meet the desired target of 145,000 out of 559,000 projected population in the district.

Nkonwa warned that people above 60 years and less than nine months, Hiv/Aids patients, allergic to eggs, and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers will be exempted from the vaccination.

Robert Majanja Ssekubuulwa the District Councillor for Luwero town council says that although the drugs have been declared safe for the category of the people, there are still fears that some parents may block children from the vaccination over misconception.

Daniel Kyaterekera the District Secretary for Education said that parents who block health workers from vaccinating their children face prosecution as stipulated in the Public Health Act.

The government through phases targets to vaccinate 14,437,098 people (90% of the eligible population) including refugees.  Despite the introduction of yellow fever vaccination in routine immunization schedules, reports indicate that national coverage has remained at 29%.

Uganda lies within the yellow fever endemic zone in Africa and registered several outbreaks. There have been registered cases in Luwero, Masaka, Kalangala, Rukungiri, Kabong, Moyo, Obongi, Maracha, and Buliisa. The latest cases were registered in Nebbi in 2021 and Wakiso in 2022.

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