The government through ministry of health- Uganda will spend Sh56 billion to procure an initial 18 million COVID-19 vaccine doses that are expected in the country this month.
President Museveni on Thursday evening Nation’s address revelead government arrangements to procure 18 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Serum Industries of India to vaccinate over 9 million persons.
In a cabinet statement released on Monday, cabinet stated that government will spend an average Sh 62,500 approximately on each Ugandan.
In the President’s address, people who are at high risk of getting infected with the disease like front-line health workers, health workers working on COVID-19 treatment, security personnel, Teachers, and the elderly will be among the first persons to receive the vaccine.
Recently, media reported a total of Sh 2 Trillion is required in order to vaccinate all Ugandans at the current cost as compared to Sh 1.4 Trillion Shillings initially budgeted by the ministry of health.
It should be recalled that MoH released a working budget of Sh 1.4 Trillions to procure COVID-19 vaccines and other logistics. However, the figures are likely to increase if all Ugandans were to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at the current costs.
Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary MoH says the budget will either increase or reduce. She did not however reveal how the ministry will get the funds.
“As we have said before, this amount included procuring the vaccine and other logistical things. We had warned that it can increase or decrease at any time and we would adjust our planning,” she said.
Uganda will also receive 3.55 m COVID-19 vaccines grant from COVAX facility, a grant of countries that go together and fund vaccines for developing countries.
The vaccination exercise is set to commence at the end of this month and or in March as the first batch of the vaccine arrive.
