In just two days, over 10,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at Kololo ceremonial grounds, according to figures released by the health ministry.
On Monday and Tuesday, a total of 8,457 people received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine while 1,661 people got their second dose. This brings the total number of persons vaccinated in two days to 10,118.
The ministry spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, yesterday (Tuesday) noted that the team vaccinated a total of 6,203 people; 5416 of whom received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 787 people got their second dose.
Monday, which was day one of the mass vaccination exercise at Kololo, saw 3,041 persons get their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, while 874 people got their second dose of the vaccine.
Ainebyoona commended the immunisation teams from the health ministry, Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Kampala Capital City Authority who are carrying out the vaccination exercise.
“Our teams at Kololo are doing a great job. The vaccination process is very swift, it takes less 15 minutes,” Ainebyoona noted. Vaccination at Kololo takes place from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily, according to the health ministry.
Following the rise in the number of Ugandans seeking to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the health ministry shifted the exercise from its headquarters in Wandegeya to the more spacious Kololo grounds.
“With effect from May 28, COVID-19 vaccination will not be held at the ministry of health headquarters. Vaccination will instead be taking place at Kololo independence grounds from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily with effect from Monday May 31,” a statement from the ministry said.
The ministry informed all persons eligible for vaccination to take note of the changes, adding that all vaccination centres will continue operating as usual. These are; people above 50 years (3.3 million), teachers (550,000), medics (150,000), security personnel (250,000), and people aged between 18 – 50 years having comorbidities (underlying sicknesses like HIV, diabetes and hypertension).
While addressing the country on the state of COVID-19 yesterday, President Yoweri Museveni noted that the ultimate solution to fighting the pandemic was vaccination. He said government is targeting to vaccinate at least 4.8 million people before he can relax the COVID-19 measures.
As of June 1, results of COVID-19 tests done by the health ministry on May 30, confirmed confirm 614 new cases, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 47,761.
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