By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: Ministry of Health has refuted allegations that Ugandan government is in talks with People’s Republic of China government to import its COVID-19 Vaccine to save Ugandans battling with deadly COVID-19.
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Ministry was responding to allegations that Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health said if all goes well the country will have its first dozes of a Covid-19 vaccine at the beginning of next year.
Only vaccines approved by the Ministry of Health and @WHO can be administered to the population of #Uganda.
— Ministry of Health- Uganda (@MinofHealthUG) December 9, 2020
Ministry cleared the air saying that Gov’t is not importing but has only authorized China to import the vaccine for use by Chinese nationals only in Kapeeka who made orders from their country.
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“They claim the vaccine is being used in their home country. (theownerbuildernetwork.co) This vaccine is still under research and not approved for use by WHO,” Ministry noted through its Twitter handle.
Govt is NOT importing the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine for use by Ugandans BUT for use by Chinese in Kapeeka who want to import it for Chinese nationals only.They claim the vaccine is being used in their home country. This vaccine is still under research & not approved for use by WHO https://t.co/R3CZADCvyU
— Ministry of Health- Uganda (@MinofHealthUG) December 9, 2020
Ministry further clarified that it has applied and quantified the need for the COVID-19 vaccine through GAVI saying that this is already approved for use by WHO adding that this process is in advanced stages and the public will be informed when the vaccine is in the country.
GAVI, Vaccine Alliance is a public–private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in poor countries.
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The development comes after the People’s Republic of China government has been approved by government of Uganda to import COVID-19 vaccine for its nationals in Uganda in a bid to protect its citizens wherever they’re.
According to the letter seen by TheSpy Uganda, the Chinese government’s decision came after their nationals’ community of Liao Shen Industrial Park located in Kapeeka, Luwero district, indicated their need for four thousand doses of SARSCoV-2 inactivated vaccine (vero cell).
Uganda’s Health Minister went ahead and cleared the move and allowed them to import the same. In her response letter dated December,3,2020, Ruth Acheng in fact, thanked the Chinese Govt for the efforts so far in as far as looking for a vaccine to treat the virus is concerned.
