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Shift Media News 
By OKELLO ALLAN
MBALE- SHIFTMEDIA- With statistics of the health workers vaccinated against Covid 19 still minimal, local district leaders are finding it hard to convince more to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Many health workers in eastern Uganda are still doubtful of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
There was tension at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital when district officials found faced it rough after they received a cold reception from health workers.
Some easeness was registered when First son, Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba Muhoozi received his first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine joining the growing number of Ugandans who have already taken the COVID jab.
Kainerugaba received the vaccine while opening the Covid-19 vaccination campaign within SFC. He went on to thank President Museveni, Ministry of Health for quick acquisition of the vaccine.
“Today, it was my pleasure to open the covid-19 vaccination campaign within SFC by taking my first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine. I thank H.E. @kagutamuseveni, the Ministry of Health and our development partners for the quick acquisition and roll-out of this vaccine” – Muhoozi tweeted.
Several health officials who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity said they will not get the vaccine until they see the president vaccinated. During his televised address on Sunday, president, Yoweri Museveni said that he was yet to decide on which COVID-19 vaccine to use.
The president’s revelation has raised questions in public spheres on the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being used in the country. Currently, Resident District Commissioners have joined District Health Officers and other leaders to convince the targeted groups to accept the vaccine.
RDC is vaccinated
Ahamada Washaki, the Manafwa Resident District Commissioner who got his first jab at Bubulo health Center IV said that the country has made progress in the fight against Covid-19 but some people are doing whatever they can to antagonize the vaccination program. He says those spreading false information against the vaccine are anti-people since the government cannot decide to kill its citizens.
“I do not think as a Government we can choose to kill health workers. You think we can decide to kill on the RDCs, to kill all police? This vaccine is certified, so those detractors fighting it should stop,” Washaki said.
However, Emmanuel Welukule, the Assistant Manafwa District Health Officer, says that they expect some people to have reservation since this is the first Covid-19 vaccination in the country. He reveals that they have tried to explain to the health workers that the vaccine is safe for human life.
Uganda last week kicked off its first phase of the vaccination against Covid-19 with the limited 964,000 doses got through donations to be administered to high-risk groups, including frontline workers and the Health Minister, Dr.Jane Ruth Aceng was the first person to take the jab.
