Uganda has intensified efforts to contain the mpox outbreak by securing 100,000 additional vaccine doses from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The new batch aims to slow the virus’s spread in high-risk regions, according to a senior health official.
Henry Kyobe, the incident commander at the Ministry of Health, announced on Monday that vaccine distribution would prioritize areas with the highest infection rates.
Targeted Vaccination for Vulnerable Groups
“The next phase will focus on young adults aged 25 to 35, a demographic identified as particularly vulnerable,” Kyobe stated.
Vaccination efforts will be concentrated in key high-risk areas within Kampala, including Rubaga, Nakawa, and Central divisions.
Other targeted districts include Mukono, Wakiso, Buvuma, Nakasongola, and Masaka, along with western regions such as Mbarara and Hoima.
Expanding Uganda’s Mpox Response
Uganda launched its mpox vaccination campaign in February, initially focusing on high-risk groups like commercial sex workers, bar attendants, commuter taxi drivers, motorcycle operators, and roadside vendors in Kampala’s Kawempe and Makindye divisions.
The first phase immunized 10,000 individuals in the most affected districts.
Since confirming its first cases last August, Uganda has recorded 4,810 laboratory-confirmed infections and 37 deaths. Many fatalities occurred in individuals with preexisting conditions such as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and diabetes.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over Uganda’s rising mpox cases, noting that the country now has the highest rate of community-transmitted infections globally.
“The nation is experiencing significant community transmission, with weekly case numbers rising steadily,” WHO stated.
What is Mpox?
Mpox, scientifically known as Monkeypox, is a contagious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
It spreads through close contact and presents symptoms like fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle pain, skin rashes, and backaches.
With increased vaccination efforts and proactive public health measures, Uganda aims to curb the outbreak and safeguard vulnerable communities.
