Uganda Targets Yellow Fever with Vaccination, Travel Limits
2024-06-04
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1The East African country of Uganda has begun a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign.
2The aim is for the country to protect its population against the viral disease.
3Yellow fever is spread by insects called mosquitoes.
4Dr. Michael Baganizi is an official in charge of immunization at the health ministry.
5By the end of April, Ugandan officials had vaccinated 12.2 of the 14 million people targeted, he said.
6Baganizi added that Uganda will now require everyone traveling to and from the country to have a yellow fever vaccination card.
7Ugandan officials hope the requirement will push more people to get the yellow fever shot.
8Many people in Uganda have concerns about getting the vaccine.
9That worries health care providers.
10The vaccine involves one injection.
11It is available at no cost to Ugandans between the ages of one and 60.
12There are vaccination centers in the capital, Kampala.
13Places offering the vaccine include schools, universities, hospitals, and local government buildings.
14The Associated Press (AP) reports that, before the current campaign, Ugandans usually paid $27 to get the yellow fever vaccination at private health centers.
15Uganda has more than 45 million people.
16It is one of 27 countries in Africa that is considered at "high risk" for yellow fever outbreaks.
17The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are about 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths around the world from the disease.
18Uganda's most recent outbreak was reported earlier this year in the central areas of Buikwe and Buvuma.
19Yellow fever is caused by a virus spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
20Most infections do not have symptoms.
21The WHO says symptoms can include a high body temperature, muscle pain, head pain, loss of willingness to eat, upset stomach, and vomiting.
22Uganda's vaccination program is part of a worldwide effort launched in 2017 to eliminate yellow fever by 2026.
23That goal was set by the WHO and its partners such as the U.N. children's agency.
24The aim is to protect almost one billion people in Africa and in North and South America.
25Last year, a study said that 185 million people in high-risk African countries had been vaccinated by August 2022.
26In Uganda, most people get the yellow fever vaccination when they are traveling to countries such as South Africa.
27South Africa requires proof of vaccination upon arrival in the country.
28James Odite is a nurse working at a private hospital, which also is a vaccination center in an area of Kampala.
29He told the AP that hundreds of shots remained unused after the yellow fever vaccination campaign closed.
30They might be used in a future mass campaign.
31Some people wonder if "the government wants to give them expired vaccines," Odite said.
32Baganizi said Uganda's government has spent money on community "sensitization" programs.
33In these programs, officials tell people that vaccines save lives.
34I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The East African country of Uganda has begun a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign. 2The aim is for the country to protect its population against the viral disease. Yellow fever is spread by insects called mosquitoes. 3Dr. Michael Baganizi is an official in charge of immunization at the health ministry. By the end of April, Ugandan officials had vaccinated 12.2 of the 14 million people targeted, he said. 4Baganizi added that Uganda will now require everyone traveling to and from the country to have a yellow fever vaccination card. 5Ugandan officials hope the requirement will push more people to get the yellow fever shot. Many people in Uganda have concerns about getting the vaccine. That worries health care providers. 6The vaccine involves one injection. It is available at no cost to Ugandans between the ages of one and 60. There are vaccination centers in the capital, Kampala. Places offering the vaccine include schools, universities, hospitals, and local government buildings. 7The Associated Press (AP) reports that, before the current campaign, Ugandans usually paid $27 to get the yellow fever vaccination at private health centers. 8Uganda has more than 45 million people. It is one of 27 countries in Africa that is considered at "high risk" for yellow fever outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are about 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths around the world from the disease. 9Uganda's most recent outbreak was reported earlier this year in the central areas of Buikwe and Buvuma. 10Yellow fever is caused by a virus spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Most infections do not have symptoms. The WHO says symptoms can include a high body temperature, muscle pain, head pain, loss of willingness to eat, upset stomach, and vomiting. 11Uganda's vaccination program is part of a worldwide effort launched in 2017 to eliminate yellow fever by 2026. That goal was set by the WHO and its partners such as the U.N. children's agency. The aim is to protect almost one billion people in Africa and in North and South America. 12Last year, a study said that 185 million people in high-risk African countries had been vaccinated by August 2022. 13In Uganda, most people get the yellow fever vaccination when they are traveling to countries such as South Africa. South Africa requires proof of vaccination upon arrival in the country. 14James Odite is a nurse working at a private hospital, which also is a vaccination center in an area of Kampala. He told the AP that hundreds of shots remained unused after the yellow fever vaccination campaign closed. They might be used in a future mass campaign. 15Some people wonder if "the government wants to give them expired vaccines," Odite said. 16Baganizi said Uganda's government has spent money on community "sensitization" programs. In these programs, officials tell people that vaccines save lives. 17I'm Gregory Stachel. 18Risdel Kasasira reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21immunization - v. to give (someone) a vaccine to prevent infection by a disease 22symptoms - n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present 23vomit - v. to have the food or liquid that is in your stomach come out through your mouth because you are sick 24eliminate - v. to get rid of (something) 25expired - v. to no longer be valid after a period of time