A lot of Ugandans are reluctant to get vaccinated for COVID-19, but President Yoweri Museveni is encouraging them to increase their vaccination rate.
The president of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to reduce the surge in infections.
Museveni who was in company with the First Lady Janet Museveni made the remarks shortly after the two had got their second jabs for the Coronavirus vaccine on Thursday at the Nakasero State Lodge.
“Mama Janet Museveni and I took the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I urge Ugandans to get vaccinated,” the president urged.
He said previously, vaccination was for the high-risk groups but now the chance has been extended to all Ugandans in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
“We started with the high-risk groups like health workers, teachers, the elderly, security, and people with comorbidities. Our target is to cover over four million people,” Museveni said.
“We cannot stand still and lament. Observe COVID-19 Guidelines put in place, be informed, and avoid Social Media Sensationalism about the Corona Pandemic and the Vaccines.”
This, however, comes at a time when the coronavirus cases in Uganda continue to hike more so in the districts of Kampala and Wakiso. The health ministry on Thursdays announced 1,083 newly cases countrywide with 832 of them in Kampala.
For the past three days since June, 1, Uganda has registered a total of 2,612 new cases whereas Kampala alone accounts for 1,883 of the cases.
The health minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng on Wednesday warned that the second wave of the virus will claim even more people than the first one, adding that the third one, which is about to come will be worse.
Aceng who was quick to urge Ugandans not to relax the Standard Operating measures also called upon the general public to report to designated areas for vaccination.
A ministry report as of Thursday indicates that only 677,084 people have been vaccinated so far. This is a deliberately lesser number as compared to the level at which the virus is spreading.
“A total of 1,125,306 tests have been done since last year. The number of cumulative cases registered since then are 49,759 with 365 deaths with 377 people admitted in Intensive Care Units of various government referral hospitals countrywide,” the latest statement from the ministry reads.
