The Canadian government has donated 1,904,140 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
“This first donation of Canadian-funded vaccines to Uganda is a watershed moment and a tangible example of global solidarity in action,” Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, told reporters on Saturday.
“We want to thank the Canadian government in particular for providing timely and critical support to Covax [a global vaccine sharing initiative] to enable this,” she added.
Uganda plans to vaccinate at least 7 million people by January in order to fully reopen the economy. To limit the epidemic, it plans to vaccinate at least 22 million people.
In the campaign that began in March, a total of 3.9 million doses of various vaccines received through donations and direct procurement have been administered.
Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry’s spokesperson, stated that regional mass vaccination programs are being conducted to enhance uptake.
“Canada is committed to a global effort to stop Covid-19 and address its devastating impacts on people around the world,” said David da Silva, acting High Commissioner of Canada to Uganda.
In response to Covid-19, Canada has committed more than $2.5 billion in international assistance since February 2020.”
The Covid-19 dilemma, according to Dr Munir Safieldin, the UN Children’s Fund Representative in Uganda, is a child rights catastrophe.
“The longer Uganda’s pandemic continues, the more severe the impact on mothers and children will be.” Unicef Uganda, as a significant Covax partner, welcomes the Canadian government’s dose-sharing,” he stated.
“Vaccination is essential for safeguarding our children and ourselves, as well as for creating safer communities and civilizations free of vaccine-preventable illnesses.” “It’s vital that children continue to have access to current immunizations as we introduce vaccines against Covid-19,” he added.