Uganda is set to destroy COVID-19 vaccines valued at $7.3 million after they reached their expiration date. The government of the East African nation procured approximately 5.6 million doses of these vaccines through a loan from the World Bank.
According to a report presented to parliament by Uganda’s Auditor General, John Muwanga, an additional concern was raised about drugs worth $8.6 million, primarily HIV antiretroviral drugs, which also expired due to changes in treatment guidelines recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Authorities in Uganda anticipate total losses from expired COVID-19 vaccines to exceed $78 million by the end of 2024. Official figures indicate that 59% of the eligible population in Uganda is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
This situation echoes a broader challenge faced in East Africa in 2021, where over 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines stored in government facilities were at risk of expiry, as reported by the East African media.