US plans to donate Pfizer vaccines to Uganda for Children above 5years

By Our Reporter

15^th Nov 2021

The United States of America is considering another donation of Pfizer vaccines, this time targeting children aged five years and above to facilitate the safe reopening of schools and the Ugandan economy which has been largely closed for the last two years.

Previously, the country earmarked a few doses of the vaccine to learners aged 12 and above who suffer from co-morbidities like asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV due to their susceptibility to COVID-19.

The Pfizer vaccine was approved for use among children aged 5-11 by the Food and Drug Administration last month on approval as a means to prevent COVID-19 infections following earlier approvals for learners aged 12 and above.

Children in this age group are supposed to get a third of the dose consumed by adults and teenagers. According to the FDA, this amounts to 10 micrograms compared to the 30 received by adults.

Now, Christopher Kraft, the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Kampala says that America is willing to support the safe reopening of schools, and the economy at large, with vaccines for both adults and children.

If Uganda is including school-going children aged 5 years to 17 among those eligible for vaccination, it will need around 20 million doses to cater for over 10 million learners spread from primary one to post-secondary institutions. However, the US diplomat says he is not yet aware of how many doses of vaccine in this category will be donated.

State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo says that the said donations will be a game-changer in keeping the schools open after the scheduled reopening.

Currently, the US is the single largest donor of vaccines to Uganda having already donated 5.8 million doses with the recent shipment comprising 3.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccines.