Lira. Uganda has embarked on a national program to safeguard its at-risk population against the devastating impact of yellow fever through a comprehensive vaccination campaign. With the aim of eliminating yellow fever epidemics by 2026, this campaign represents a significant milestone in the country's effort towards this goal. The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi and key partners have joined forces with Uganda to ensure the successful implementation of this life-saving initiative. 

 Yellow fever is a serious infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes that bite mostly during the day. The yellow fever symptoms include fever, yellowing of the skin and eyes, (hence the name yellow fever), dark urine, abdominal pain with vomiting and bleeding can occur from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach. 

 The disease poses a significant threat to global health security, particularly in central Africa and South America. In Africa, 27 countries, including Uganda, have been classified as high-risk for yellow fever. The disease continues to cause outbreaks, with 90% of reported global cases occurring in Africa and up to half of those developing severe disease dying. The need to protect the population from this deadly virus cannot be understated.  

 In 2017, a comprehensive global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics (EYE) was developed by WHO and a coalition of partners (Gavi and UNICEF) to eliminate Yellow Fever epidemics by 2026. The EYE strategy aims to protect almost one billion people from yellow fever in Africa and the Americas by 2026. Since the inception of this strategy, over 226 million people have been protected from yellow fever.  Preventive mass campaigns, combined with routine immunizations and catch-up activities, are known to be effective ways to prevent yellow fever outbreaks.  

 In Uganda, the yellow fever preventive vaccination campaign was launched on 8 June 2023 in Lira City, Uganda by Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero. This campaign aims to protect over 13.3 million Ugandans aged 9 months to 60 years in the first phase from being infected and succumbing to yellow fever.  

 “Today Uganda joins the rest of the world in the global agenda to eliminate yellow fever by 2026. Immunization has been at the heart of Government health care interventions, and this is evident by the increasing number of vaccines in the routine immunization schedule from prevention against six killer diseases in the early 1980s to the current 13,” said Dr Aceng. 

 Under the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization (UNEPI), the preventive immunization campaign will be conducted in three phases. The first phase, (9 -13 June 2023) targeted 51 districts in Lango, Acholi, West Nile, Rwenzori, Bunyoro and Kigezi sub-regions. The second phase is in October 2023 and the last phase in October 2024. The phased approach ensures efficient and widespread coverage of the population, as Uganda works toward achieving its goal of eliminating yellow fever epidemics.

  “I wish to remind parents, caretakers, and all Ugandans that the yellow fever vaccine is safe, effective, and free. These vaccines have been approved by the WHO and the Ministry of Health. The vaccines provide long-term immunity to Yellow Fever. One injection of Yellow Fever vaccine offers lifelong protection!” said Dr Nomthandazo Lukhele, the WHO country office cluster lead for communicable and non-communicable diseases.  

 Dr. Lukhele added, “It is worth noting that WHO is promoting a life course approach to health including vaccinations. Vaccines are not only for younger children below five years but also for older children and adults. We have the HPV vaccination targeting 10-year-old girls, adult vaccines like the COVID-19 vaccines and now a preventive immunization campaign for yellow fever targeting children from nine months and all adults up to 60 years.”  

 Uganda is yellow fever endemic, with frequent outbreaks. The first recorded outbreak occurred in Western Uganda, Bwamba County, Bundibugyo district in 1942. There have been reported cases in 1952, 1964, 1971, and 1975. Since 2010, Uganda has had an escalating number of yellow fever outbreaks with confirmed cases reported in Agago, Abim, Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader. In 2016, there were outbreaks in Masaka, Kalangala and Rukungiri. In 2019, there were outbreaks in Kaabong and Masaka.  

 In 2020, there were cases in Moyo, Obongi, Maracha and Buliisa districts. Wakiso district had outbreaks in 2020 and 2022. In 2021, there was an outbreak in Nebbi district. Most recently, this year (2023), yellow fever outbreaks have been recorded in Buikwe and Buvuma districts. This means that many Ugandans are not immune to yellow fever and hence the need to rapidly roll out the vaccine.