COVID-19 vaccination certificates can now be accessed online – MoH

The Ministry of Health has created an online vaccination certificate on the verge of enabling fully vaccinated persons to easily access their certificates.

According to the Ministry’s Senior Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the self-service e-portal enables an individual to download their certificate only a fortnight after reception of their second dose.

This was revealed yesterday as the ministry provided information and updates on prevailing health matters highlighting the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise to the press.

After receiving 286,000 doses of AstraZeneca from the Norwegian government and 300,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine from the Chinese government at the end of July, the Ministry resumed vaccination this week.

However, individuals who are due for the second dose, having made it 12 weeks after their first dose, health workers, teachers, security personnel, elderly above 50 years and those with underlying health conditions above 18 years of age are duly expected to receive this dose.

In reference to the MoH vaccination data, 230,739 persons were due for the second dose by August 2 having completed 12 weeks after receiving the first jab.

As the ministry intends to roll out the administration of the over 300,000 doses of the Sinovac anytime ahead, those that have not yet made 12 weeks have been urged to wait patiently for their time.

“We hope that the vaccination exercise will be open to the rest of the targeted 22 million of population in due course as and when more vaccines are received into the country,” Ainebyoona revealed.

The ministry expects additional doses of the AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines by the end of August and early September while details of the consignment await confirmation.

To date, the Ministry has administered 1,157,251 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“As of 9th August 2021, cumulatively a total of 904,601 persons had received the 1st dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine representing 79.4% of the received vaccine doses whereas 250,664 (27.7%) had been fully vaccinated,” said Ainebyoona.

The country has a target of vaccinating about 21.9 million people, 49% of the population. This will enable optimal control of the virus and full opening of the economy once done.

According to the ministry, Ugandans will be at liberty to decide which vaccine they want when it is available as modalities for the private sector to purchase vaccines through the National Medical Stores are being worked on.

The ministry received 864,000 doses through the COVAX facility initially and 100,000 doses from the Indian government in March this year.

Later in June the Ministry also received 175,200 doses of AstraZeneca from the French government.

The Ministry further revealed 12 current COVID-19 private testing accredited laboratories which include among others; MBN Clinical Laboratories, Lancet Laboratories, Epicentre lab Mbarara, MAIA Group laboratories, Safari laboratories and Case Hospital Laboratories, Kampala.