Uganda’s Yellow Fever Vaccination Campaign Faces Vaccine Hesitancy

KAMPALA, Uganda — In April, Uganda launched a mass vaccination campaign against the mosquito-borne disease yellow fever, aiming to reach millions. However, vaccine hesitancy has left hundreds of unused doses in hospitals across the country.

Yellow fever, a potentially deadly virus, has no specific treatment but can be prevented with a vaccine that offers lifetime protection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

At a university on the outskirts of Kampala, students participated in the government's mass vaccination program. This second phase of the campaign, initially set to run from April 2 to 8, was extended by a week due to low turnout.

In June 2023, the government ran a similar campaign targeting 13 million people. Combined, the 2023 and 2024 campaigns aimed to vaccinate 27 million people. To date, only 12 million have been immunized, with vaccine hesitancy stalling efforts to eradicate the virus.

Yellow fever poses a significant threat to global health security, particularly in central Africa and South America. According to WHO, 27 African countries, including Uganda, are classified as high-risk, with 90% of global cases reported on the continent. Symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and bleeding from the nose and eyes. WHO estimates there are between 84,000 to 170,000 severe cases of yellow fever in Africa each year, with up to half resulting in death.

Dr. Michael Baganizi, program manager for the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization, reported sporadic cases of the disease earlier this year. He emphasized that even one case poses a national health risk. “Uganda is one of the 27 high-risk countries for yellow fever, meaning the disease can be contracted within the country. Proof of vaccination is required for travel in or out of Uganda,” Baganizi said.

He attributes the public’s hesitance to the lack of familiarity with yellow fever compared to diseases like malaria. James Odite, a registered nurse at a designated vaccination center in Kampala, confirmed that hundreds of vaccine doses remain unused. Most people who came for the vaccination were travelers needing the vaccine as a legal requirement.

Odite explained, “It was low in the first weeks because people were doubting the vaccine. They had queries, thinking the government was giving expired vaccines.”

Mosh Ssendi, a local councillor, opposes the vaccination program, arguing that the effects of the disease are exaggerated to encourage vaccination. He believes people should build immunity by surviving an infection, despite the availability of a safe yellow fever vaccine since 1937.

Baganizi understands the challenge of convincing a skeptical public but remains committed to combating the deadly virus. He notes that public awareness is limited because many people have never seen yellow fever up close. “Educating the public is difficult because if I have not seen the disease, I have not seen a neighbor with the disease, I have not seen anyone who has died of the disease, somehow I have the feeling that I am not at a threat,” Baganizi said.

Despite the obstacles, Baganizi is determined to continue the fight against yellow fever, aiming to protect Uganda’s population from this preventable yet deadly disease.