Dr. Alfred Driwale, the program manager Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization, attributes the shortage to increased demand for vaccine globally.
The Health
Ministry may not meet its target of vaccinating all girls of ten of age against
the Human Papilloma Virus-HPV following a global shortage of the vaccine.
The Human
Papilloma Virus is a cancer causing virus, which is transmitted by men and can
only be stopped by vaccination. The virus causes cervical cancer.
Uganda plans to
vaccinate an estimated 700,000 children this year. However, the Health
Ministry is worried that it may not meet the target due to the global HPV
vaccine shortage.
Dr. Alfred Driwale, the program manager Uganda
National Expanded Program on Immunization, attributes the shortage to increased
demand for vaccine globally.
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Dr. Driwale says with the expected shortage, they might not
be able to meet their target.
“We started with coverage of about 35
percent for the second dose in 2015.In year two it went to about 50 and 75 in
year three. The pressure is too much and with the global shortages, we do not
think we shall be able to meet our target of 90 percent,” he said.
Dr. Driwale
says the vaccine shortage will be felt at the district level mostly. He says
districts with high uptake like those in North Uganda will be most affected.
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According to Dr. Driwale, once the global shortage comes to
an end, those who would have missed vaccination will receive the required
doses.
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Failure for one to complete the HPV vaccine dose exposes one
to cervical cancer. Each child receives two doses spread over six month’s
period.
HPV vaccine is administered to girls that are ten years old. Cervical cancer
is the most common type of cancer among women in Uganda according to the Uganda
Cancer Institute.
Data from the
Health Ministry shows that the uptake of the first dose is stands at 100
percent while that of the second dose stands at 75 percent.
Pamela Mawanda
Freelancer