Uganda will receive a total of 2000 doses of the Mpox vaccine from the African Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, while speaking to journalists at her office on Friday, September 6, 2024, said that there are two vaccines under consideration for deployment in Uganda.
She said the vaccines include the MVA-BN from the USA, recommended for adults, and the LC16 from Japan, suitable for both adults and children.
According to Aceng, the 2,000 MVA-BN doses allocated to Uganda by the Africa CDC can only cover 1,000 individuals.
Dr. Aceng said the government is working with global partners to secure additional doses of Mpox vaccines.
She emphasized that the Ministry will guide on the most appropriate modalities for equitable delivery and distribution of the vaccines, informed by epidemiological data and the severity of the disease.
“Both vaccines are currently undergoing emergency use licensing by the World Health Organization (WHO), and Uganda is still waiting clearance from the National Drug Authority (NDA) to consider their use in the country, Aceng stressed.
She added that both vaccines are in short supply, and the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners are working on access strategies to ensure that all affected countries can benefit.
Uganda has so far confirmed about 10 cases of Mpox in Kasese, Mayuge, and Kampala, among others.
The ministry has called for vigilance to curb the spread of the disease.
