There is panic as 67,000 AstraZeneca vaccines are set to expire at the end of the month, as some Ugandans struggle to even get their first jab.
According to Abiaz Rwamwiri, the National Drug Authority-NDA Principle Public Relations officer, the vaccines were part of a batch of 128,560 doses that were donated by Norway.
Records from the health ministry indicate that 12,000 vaccines are in Kampala and 8,000 in Arua.
With just 10 days left to the end of the month, Rwamwiri says the vaccines are still good for use.
“A vaccine is expected to expire this month does not mean it's bad. That vaccine can be used until the last day of the month. In this case, it is September 30. COVID-19 vaccines normally have a six months’ shelf life but by the time they arrive here from the countries, some time had passed. But this does not mean we are giving people expired vaccines. NDA makes sure that people are getting good vaccines” Rwamwiri said.
Vaccination of teachers, health workers, people with co-morbidities, security personnel and other persons has been ongoing for the last month.
It remains unclear why, despite the pending expiry of vaccines within Kampala, many vaccination sites in the city centre are not carrying out vaccination and claim not to have them.
But, Emmanuel Ainebyoona the Ministry of Health Spokesperson earlier on said that there were very few vaccines left in Kampala.
