By Steven Enatu
SOROTI
The authorities at Soroti Regional referral hospital are turning away people who show up to receive the covid19 vaccine without the national identity card.
This was witnessed by our reporter who visited and interacted with some of the people seen leaving the vaccine point yesterday 30th March 2021.
One who preferred anonymity told our reporter that the national Identification is being asked for one to fill the consent form before receiving the jab.
Meanwhile, the Senior Hospital Administrator, James Ojwang when contacted for a comment said that government has been emphasizing that national IDs are part of the requirements for one to be vaccinated because the consent form requires that one fills their National Identification Number (NIN).
He however noted that people in the category to be vaccinated must make sure they go to the vaccination centers with their IDs.
“Those without IDs will get another arrangement to get the vaccine, for now consultations are ongoing with the parent ministry,” he said.
The vaccination against covid19 was launched on the 18th March 2021 for Soroti and according to the facility administrator; the process shall take 2 months.
Ojwang said that so far 546 people have gotten their jabs including the hospital board and staff at Soroti Regional Referral hospital.
Ojwang added that the vaccine is free of charge and the categories are highly encouraged to go get the vaccine before it gets out of stock. He further said that the vaccine is very safe and no complaint has been registered from those who have received it.
“We are anticipating the third wave of corona virus and we need to get prepared through embracing the vaccine,” he added.
The Ministry of Health Uganda received 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, shipped via the COVAX facility—the world’s facility for universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The first phase of the vaccine targets Health care providers, security personnel, teachers, journalists, persons aged 50 years and above and those with underlying health conditions.
