RUNDOWN
• Uganda has now received 1,200 doses of the Ebola trial vaccine.
• Vaccine comes at a time when the Ebola outbreak is on the decline.
• If no case is reported, the WHO will declare Uganda Ebola-free on Jan. 11, 2023.
As a way to fight Ebola, Uganda has now received 1,200 doses of the Ebola trial vaccine to be used in a clinical trial aimed at fighting the Sudan strain of the virus that hit the country in September.
Receiving the doses on Thursday from the World Health Organization (WHO), Ugandan Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng said although the vaccine comes at a time when the Ebola outbreak is on the decline, research will continue to ensure the country is ready in case of any further outbreak.
In an event which was held at the state-owned National Medical Stores, 40 km south of the capital Kampala. The minister said although the vaccine comes at a time when the Ebola outbreak is on the decline, research will continue to ensure the country is ready in case of any further outbreak.
Handing over the vaccines, Charles Njuguna, incident manager for the WHO Country Office in Uganda, said they have been tested in preliminary studies to determine their efficacy and safety.
“They will be administered to those at the greatest risk, the immediate contacts of a person who has been diagnosed with the Sudan virus disease,” said Njuguna, adding that the participation in the trial is voluntary and free.
Charles also added that the arrival of the trial vaccine does not interfere with the country’s other measures to contain the outbreak.
Figures from shows that since the country declared the outbreak on Sept. 20, 142 confirmed cases and 55 deaths have been registered. So far, nine districts have been affected, but three of them have already gone beyond 42 days, a period after which a place can be declared Ebola-free if no case is reported.
The country is still in an Ebola response mode, which will end on Jan. 10, 2023 and if no case is reported, the WHO will declare Uganda Ebola-free on Jan. 11, 2023.
By Jane Kibathi.
