Corporates team up for mass Covid-19 jab drive

October 11, 2021 in Companies by Editor

Dr Alfred Driwale, Asst Commissioner, Vaccines and Immunisation – MoH, Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye and Daniel Okello, KCCA Director of Public Health, flag off the mass vaccination driver earlier today

Beer maker Uganda Breweries and Coca-Cola franchise holder Century Bottling have teamed up with plastics giant NICE Uganda, will in conjunction with the Ministry of Health stage a mass COVID-19 vaccination event in Kampala on October 16.

The event which seeks to add draught to what has so far been a sluggish vaccination campaign, will run from 9am to 5pm will be held at Kololo independence grounds.

“Our priority is to make it as convenient as possible for people to get vaccinated. This event will be on a Saturday to enable those who need to receive their first or second shot, to get it with ease, in a hassle free and fun environment,” said Jackie Tahakanizibwa, Uganda Breweries Manager for Corporate Affairs.

More than 20 mobile vaccination stations with a holding area, recovery and hospitality tents, will be at the location, which will help to avoid long queues. This week’s event is a follow-up of similar events last month that saw UBL and Coca Cola deploy mobile vaccination sites in restaurants, bars, markets and public centers within the greater Kampala Metropolitan area. The drive has also drummed up public awareness about the benefits of vaccination.

“Our target is to vaccinate as many people in Kampala as possible, and ensure that the available stock of vaccines is effectively used. This model has been tried globally and been proven to work and our Public Health team will deploy sufficient resources to ensure we are able to vaccinate as many people as possible during the day,” said Dorothy Kisaka, the KCCA Executive Director.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 2.28 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have so far been administered. The government aims to vaccinate a minimum of 4.8 million people before the economy can be fully reopened.

Uganda’s economy contracted 1.1pc in 2020 because of the pandemic and the related containment measures. The Bank of Uganda has projected a rebound in growth to between 3 – 3.5pc in fiscal 2021-22 subject to the pace of Covid-19 vaccination.