**Fatshimetrie: The fight against yellow fever in Uganda**
In Uganda, the mass yellow fever vaccination campaign was launched in April, aiming to immunize millions of people. However, a hesitancy to get vaccinated has led to hundreds of doses going unused in hospitals across the country.
Yellow fever is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment for the virus, but a vaccine can provide lifelong protection against the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
On the outskirts of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, students showed up to receive their jab as part of the government’s mass vaccination program.
This second phase of the campaign, scheduled for April 2 to 8, was extended by one week due to low participation.
Last year, in June 2023, the government launched a campaign aimed at targeting 13 million people. Together, the mass vaccination programs in 2023 and 2024 were expected to provide enough doses to protect 27 million people. However, to date only 12 million people have been vaccinated and hesitancy to get vaccinated is hampering the government’s goal of eradicating the mosquito-borne virus from the country.
According to experts, yellow fever poses a significant threat to global health security, particularly in Central Africa and South America.
The WHO has classified 27 countries in Africa, including Uganda, as being at high risk for yellow fever, with 90% of global cases reported on the continent. Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and bleeding from the nose and eyes.
Dr. Michael Baganizi, head of Uganda’s Expanded National Immunization Program, reported sporadic cases of the disease earlier this year, emphasizing that a single case can represent a national health risk. He insists that the public’s hesitancy to get vaccinated is because the disease is less known than others, such as malaria.
Nurses, like James Odite, note that most of the people who came to be vaccinated were travelers going to a country where the vaccine is a legal entry requirement. However, despite the availability of doses, hesitancy persists among the population.
Mosh Ssendi, a councilor involved in the development of local laws in Kampala, strongly opposes the vaccination program. He believes that the effects of the disease are exaggerated to encourage people to get vaccinated and argues in favor of boosting immunity through infection.
Dr Baganizi acknowledges challenges in convincing a skeptical public to get vaccinated, but he is determined in his fight against the deadly virus. It highlights the importance of public education to promote vaccination and awareness of the risks of yellow fever.
In conclusion, the fight against yellow fever in Uganda demonstrates the challenges facing mass vaccination efforts. Despite the obstacles, it is essential to raise awareness and encourage people to get vaccinated to protect public health and prevent the spread of this potentially fatal disease.