Health ministry procures extra cold chain refrigerators for vaccine storage

 

The Ministry of Health has procured three cold chain refrigerators that are meant to store vaccines at extra cold temperatures.

 

The refrigerators will enable the ministry to store COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer, that require extra cold temperatures, according to Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the health ministry spokesperson.

 

He made the revelation on Saturday, adding that the refrigerators arrived in the country this week.

 

'Extra cold chain refrigerators for those vaccines that require 80 degrees are being installed at the National Medical Stores. The three refrigerators will enable storage of one million-plus doses of vaccines that require extra cold temperatures,' Ainebyoona said.

 

Government plans to vaccinate over 27 million of its population to achieve herd immunity.

 

So far, a total of 1,267,951 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered to high risk groups as of August 19.

The country has finalized agreements for the procurement of over 45 million dozes of Covid-19 vaccine which will be used to immunize over 27million Ugandans.

The Minister of Health Dr. Jane Aceng revealed that Vaccines are expected in the country as follows;

 

- 18 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine for 9 million people expected to arrive in phases beginning October 2021.

 

- 9 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine from the African Union to cater for 9 million people. This is expected to begin arriving in the country in September 2021

 

- The Covax Facility has committed to provide donations of up to 18 million doses to cover 9 million people.