The government will start free yellow fever vaccination across the country in 2018 to check on the frequent outbreaks of the acute viral hemorrhagic disease which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
The minister of state for Primary Health Care, Joyce Kaducu Moriku told Parliament on Wednesday that the arrangement has been concluded to include yellow fever vaccination into the annual routine of immunization schedule.
Just this year the country was affected twice by the disease whose symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
According to the minister, the immunization is going to be free just like for other diseases and only a nominal fee for the certificate from the World Health Organization will be charged.
Currently the Yellow Fever vaccine and the vaccination card — required of most travelers in and out of the country — cost up to Shs 100,000 in the various government and private health facilities.
Ms. Kaducu said that the government has identified 15 clinics where the exercise will be carried out including KCCA, Entebbe, Kabale, Tororo and Busia.
Members of Parliament were however not impressed with the way the selection of clinics was done and many of them appealed that government should carry out the vaccination in all regional and referral hospitals instead of selecting only few areas.
The Lira woman Member of Parliament, Joy Atim Ongom tasked the minister to explain which criterion was used to arrive on the clinics selected.
“Honorable and colleagues, the program to start free immunization for yellow fever is welcome but I don’t understand how the ministry of Health zeroed on the selected areas. The vaccination should be
available in all regional and referral hospitals,” Mrs. Ongom said.