Covid-19 vaccine: Health ministry adds students above eighteen to priority groups list

By Mariam Namakula

The Health Ministry has added  students from tertiary institutions above the age of eighteen to the list of priority groups that needed the Covid-19 jab, according to the letter dated September 17.

According to the  Director General Health Services, Dr.Herny G Mwebesa,  this strategy is part of the on going discussion on how to open schools come November this year.

“As part of the plan we need vaccination of tertiary  students, this is  a precondition to going back to school,” Dr.Mwebasa said.

Earlier on in a letter dated August 25, the ministry had directed both private and public teachers plus the their support staff to immediately get vaccinated as a prerequisite to open schools, however according to the ministry this exercise has taken a slow pace as compared to what they had expected.

To date 237,930(43%) have received the jab with only 88,825 (16%) receiving both doses from a target 550,000.

Schools in Uganda have been  close for almost  two years.

Academicians have warned  about the failing education system.

There is an increase in teenage pregnancies too.  Numbers of children dropping out of school  also continues to rise every day that schools remain closed, educationists fear.

The ministry has asked  all stakeholders at both village and district level to be aware of the changes made. All the necessary resources will be provided within the month of September, according to the ministry.