Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Uganda has acquired 500,000 doses of hepatitis B vaccines aimed at preventing the virus among newborns and adults, according to an announcement made on Tuesday by a public health distribution agency.
The Uganda National Medical Stores (NMS) shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the vaccines will be distributed to public health facilities nationwide.
The effort is part of a broader initiative to reduce the spread of hepatitis B across the East African country.
“Preparations are already underway for onward distribution to health facilities across the country,” said the NMS, a government agency mandated to procure, store, and distribute medicines and medical supplies to government-owned health facilities in Uganda.
Sheilla Nduhukire, the principal public relations officer at Uganda’s National Medical Stores (NMS), acknowledged that the country had experienced a prolonged shortage of hepatitis B vaccines.
This shortage had significantly impacted vaccination campaigns aimed at combating the virus.
“Hepatitis B vaccines have been received and restocked at the NMS following a prolonged global shortage as communicated by the manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India,” said Nduhukire in a voice recording shared with the press.
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In 2022, approximately 1,250 Ugandans lost their lives due to hepatitis B, with around 6 percent of the population—about 2.7 million individuals—living with chronic infections, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In response, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, with the technical assistance of the WHO, has implemented a comprehensive strategy to manage hepatitis B. This plan includes initiatives focused on public awareness, testing, and treatment across the country.
Hepatitis B can lead to chronic infections, increasing the risk of severe health issues such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The virus is primarily transmitted through contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected individual.
