Mpox vaccines are beginning to roll out in Uganda
March 14, 2025
Uganda’s mpox vaccination campaign is underway, with a targeted rollout prioritizing sex workers, who face heightened transmission risks and stigma. By March 4, Uganda had reported 3,833 cases and 31 deaths. The first 10,000 vaccine doses, received in January from the EU’s HERA, were administered in key hotspots like Kawempe and Makindye. More doses—100,000 in total—are expected this month to expand coverage, including healthcare workers. While awareness efforts continue, organizations like AWAC are urging authorities to ensure equitable access for vulnerable populations. Effective outreach and timely vaccine deployment remain crucial to containing Uganda’s mpox outbreak.
Uganda’s mpox outbreak continues to escalate, with 3,833 confirmed cases and 31 deaths reported by March 4. In response, the country launched its first vaccination campaign in February, targeting high-risk groups, particularly sex workers, who experience disproportionate transmission and social stigma. The first 10,000 vaccine doses, supplied by the European Union’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), were distributed in Kampala’s high-prevalence areas, Kawempe and Makindye.
Sex workers and commuter workers, including boda-boda riders, face frequent exposure, making targeted immunization critical. However, Uganda’s sex worker advocacy group, the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC), has raised concerns about limited awareness and access to the initial rollout. With another 100,000 vaccine doses expected this month—59,000 arriving first—Uganda’s Ministry of Health plans to expand coverage, including healthcare workers and broader vulnerable populations.
Africa CDC’s Incident Manager for mpox, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, confirmed the next shipment, while Uganda’s National Incident Manager, Dr. Henry Kyobe, emphasized prioritizing commercial sex workers in low-income urban areas. Meanwhile, district task forces are intensifying community sensitization through radio outreach and grassroots mobilization, urging hygiene measures and reduced casual sexual encounters to curb transmission.
As vaccine coverage expands, advocacy groups stress the need for greater inclusion and engagement with affected communities. AWAC calls for direct collaboration with community leadership to ensure equitable vaccine access. With cases rising and Uganda’s high-density urban areas at risk, timely vaccine deployment, outreach, and strategic planning remain critical in controlling mpox’s spread and protecting the most vulnerable.