Paris, France | AFP | From medical workers struggling to care for the rising tide of COVID-19 patients to the billions of people told to stay home to slow the pandemic, everyone is waiting for one thing: a vaccine. There is no known treatment for the new coronavirus that emerged in …
Read More »GAVI: Countries can divert funds to COVID-19 efforts
Geneva, Switzerland | THE INDEPENDENT | With the COVID-19 pandemic already affecting 47 Gavi-supported countries, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has already taken new steps to help strengthen the preparedness of health systems in lower-income countries with the full support of its Board. Gavi will also be working closely with WHO, …
Read More »Mbale district receives 22 motorcycles for coronavirus surveillance
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbale district has received 22 motorcycles to aid the movement of COVID -19 surveillance teams in the district thanks to a donation to the Gavi, the vaccine alliance. Mbale district health officer Dr Jonathan Wangisi says the motorcycles have been given to all health center …
Read More »Ministry of Health to add yellow fever vaccine on immunization schedule
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Yellow fever vaccination will be included in the routine immunization schedule. According to the Ministry of Health, following the recently declared yellow fever outbreak in the country, government plans to introduce vaccination later this year. The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng says that …
Read More »Health ministry to withdraw measles vaccine from health facilities
Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health will withdraw all measles vaccines from all health facilities across the country. The move follows the introduction of the New Measles-Rubella combination vaccine that is deemed more effective in fighting the two deadly viral infections among children. On Wednesday, the national …
Read More »Gov’t receives over 20 million doses of measles, rubella vaccines
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government has received more than 20 million doses of Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine worth USD 14,351,000 (over UGX 53 billion). The vaccines, procured by UNICEF with financial support from Gavi, will vaccinate more than 18 million children aged 9 months to 14 years against Measles …
Read More »Poor countries pay more for medicines – study
Everyday drugs can cost up to 20 to 30 times more | THE INDEPENDENT | Basic, everyday drugs can cost up to 20 to 30 times more in some poor countries than others, according to a new study released on June 17 by the Center for Global Development. The study …
Read More »Biggest ever cholera vaccine drive underway in Africa: UN
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The biggest cholera vaccine drive in history is under way in Africa aimed at reining in a spate of outbreaks across the continent, the UN and charity alliance Gavi said Monday. More than two million people will receive the oral cholera vaccine as part of …
Read More »Museveni locked in intelligence fight
Reports on Tumukunde, Kayihura, Muhwezi, Muhakanizi In the wee hours of May 9 this year, President Yoweri Museveni was slated to travel to Jinja. But before he could embark on his trip there, he held a key meeting. The meeting was to discuss findings from an investigation he had asked …
Read More »World’s first malaria vaccine
Children aged five to 17 months old in Kenya, Ghana, Malawi to test it Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have been chosen to test the world’s first malaria vaccine through a pilot program beginning next year, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on April 24. The vaccine, which has partial effectiveness …
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