A section of the public living in Kisoro district have expressed heightened levels of panic after the 720 doses of AstraZeneca that were sent to the district last week have been completely depleted.
The vaccines that were delivered on Thursday were meant for health workers, members of the security and the elderly who had not yet received their second COVID 19 vaccine jab, as was prescribed by President Yoweri Museveni during his address to the nation before instituting a 42 day countrywide lockdown.
VOM has learnt that in less than a weeks time, all the vaccines has been used leaving so many people still demanding to be vaccinated.
This becomes the third batch of COVID vaccine distribution to kisoro since March 2021 to be depleted. The first round included 4260 dozes, the second distribution included 1500 doses and the most recent delivery was 720 doses bringing the total to 6,480 doses of Astra Zeneca Vaccines.
The Assistant district Health Officer in charge of Immunization Annet Dusabe says the demand for the vaccines has been overwhelming.
She explained that Government has been hard hit by the demand countrywide however people do not need to panic because more doses will be sent in the month of August.
Sources within the health department have also revealed that a number of health workers have still refused to get vaccinated against COVID 19.
Gerrard, a police man who got his second Jab from Kisoro hospital says the nurses had told him to go back because the vaccine was finished but he had to push hard until they found one for him.
Lugasa Sharifa, a student said she has completed all her COVID jabs and she has not had any negative effects on her body.
The following health facilities received COVID Vaccines as mentioned below:
Vaccines Status
1.Kisoro district hospital 200 doses. Depleted
2.Busanza HC IV 70 doses. 30used 40 remain
3.Rubuguri HC IV. 70 doses. Unclear
4 Nyabihoniko HC IV. 100 doses. Unclear
5.Chahafi HC IV. 0 doses received –
6.Mutolere Hospital. 40 doses. Still available
7.Shaaza HC III. 20 doses. 10used 10 remain
8 Potters Village. 40 doses. Unclear
Hospitals speak out
The Incharge for Immunization at kisoro hospital Sr. Grace Kyoheirwe said the 200 doses of COVID vaccine got finished today and they were forced to turn people away.
kyoheirwe explained that 1046 people of the targeted group were vaccinated for the first jab and those who have been vaccinated for the second are only 200, leaving over 800 people still in need of a second Jab.
The Busanza health center IV Incharge Dr Emmanuel Bahane says out of the 70 doses received, 30 have been utilized and majority of the targeted group have been covered.
The Shaaza Health Center III Incharge Julius Ndagijimana says 10 doses remain after 10 others were recently used to vaccinate essential personnel.
Kisoro district COVID 19 task force is expected to sit tomorrow to discuss issues including the shortage of test kits, oxygen scarcity, and challenges of home based care among other issues.
Kisoro district currently stands at a cumulative positive cases of 460 from 447 last week with 425 under home management up from 412 with total deaths standing at 8. END
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