First Lady Janet Museveni has advised the Ministry of Health to make Covid-19 vaccination for children below 18 years optional.
Responding to questions raised during a press conference at State House Nakasero yesterday, Ms Museveni, who is also the Education and Sports minister, said the decision of vaccinating children against Covid-19 should be left to parents.
She said when parents feel free to take their children for vaccination, they will do it and If they don’t want to, nobody will force them as this is not compulsory.
However, the State Minister for Education in charge of Primary Education, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, who was also present, informed the First Lady that the Ministry of Health had a discussion and press statements weeks ago, saying they were planning to vaccinate all children between the ages of five and 17 against Covid19.
Dr Kaducu said vaccinating the age bracket had not been made compulsory as the ministries of Education and Health were still holding discussions about the issue.
A cross section of health experts have urged the government to go slow on vaccinating children to avoid grave effects that the vaccines might have on their health.
A research scientist at Makerere University, Dr Clara Zoe, urged the ministry to first carry out a thorough benefit-effect analysis on the vaccines to guide it in making an informed decision.
