Uganda set to spend USD153 million on 18m doses of Covid-19 vaccine

February 3, 2021 in Business, Companies by Editor

Uganda is set to spend USD153million, to procure 18 million doses of Astra Zeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine. This will be in addition to the 3.5 million doses the country is getting through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations Covax facility that are expected early March.

The purchase that was approved during a meeting of the cabinet on February 1, will be procured from the Serum Institute of India. The 18 million doses will cover 9 million people who will each receive two jabs separated by 28 days.

According to statement issued by the government’s Media Centre, each dose will cost USD 7, bringing the total cost of the two-doseregimen to USD 14 per individual. Logistics will add USD 3 per dose bringing the cost per individual to USD 17.

Priority for the jabs will go to adults 50 years and older, persons with underlying health conditions, health workers, security personnel, teachers and other essential service providers. The Covax facility’s 3,552,000 doses will be shipped in twp quarterly installments starting March.

Ofwono Opondo, the Director of the Media Centre says actualization of the tentative allocation will be subject to emergency use listing of the vaccine by the World Health organisation, country readiness and manufacturing constraints.