Scientists explain why Uganda’s COVID-19 vaccine has delayed
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Loading... - Irene Komba
- 03 Apr 2023
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A section of Scientists have explained to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee that developing a vaccine against COVID-19 will take a longer than earlier expected, given the different processes involved.
The scientists appeared before the committee alongside officials from the former Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in regard to a recent forensic investigation carried out by the Auditor General in regard to COVID-19 funds expended in the financial years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.
The forensic investigation was informed by a resolution of Parliament on a report of the Parliamentary Taskforce on the National COVID-19 Response which requested for an investigation on COVID-19 funds.
The main objective of the forensic investigation was to ascertain whether all COVID-19 related spending was applied appropriately in accordance with existing laws, policies, and guidelines, whether there was any loss in expenditure and clarify responsible officers, and to make recommendations for better use of COVID-19 related funds.
Auditor General indicates sh31billion spent
The Auditor General indicates that in the financial year 2020/2021, the Ministry received supplementary funding of 31.032 billion which was to support the 23 selected projects of scientists and innovators engaged in Covid-19 scientific research. The money comprised 15.78 billion for the procurement of specialized machinery and equipment and 15.24 billion for operational costs towards the development of vaccines as well as drug diagnostics.
In their submission to the committee, the scientists said that the establishment of a national capacity to respond to pandemics is a milestone in the development of vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
Professor Vinand Mukatabala Nantulya, the Busitema University Chancellor and Principal Investigator, Zygen Biotech said that the country has so far established a national capacity to respond to epidemics by generation of development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
“I alerted the President that he should not think that we shall get a vaccine before developed countries because they were already ahead. What was important was to establish a national capacity to respond because Covid-19 is not the last outbreak we are going to get,” said Nantulya.
He added that COVID-19 will come in periodic attacks and that it is important that the country continues the work on the development of vaccines, including those against other variants which are going to emerge. Read More…
