As the omicron variant of the coronavirus sweeps across the country, a growing number of Ugandans are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access public places.
The new mandate has opened the door for those opposed to getting the vaccine to buy fake vaccination cards.
Three health workers in Hoima were arrested yesterday for selling COVID-19-vaccination cards to unvaccinated people.
The three arrested include two health workers and a cleaner at the facility with whom they’ve been selling cards at Shs20,000.
Also, NBS TV ran an investigative story yesterday about how people are getting fake cards at Shs45k from Nasser Road. In the story, it showed that many shops at Nasser Road have already printed cards, only waiting for buyers.
One may wonder why are Ugandans shunning vaccination yet it’s free? According to some of the people this website has talked to say that no one can force them to get vaccinated.
“Me not being vaccinated is personal,” one of the respondents said.
Meanwhile, some say it’s easy to get fake vaccine cards hence they cannot waste time to be in vaccination queues.
To date, Uganda has 146,776 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 11,922,428 have been vaccinated. National Medical Stores has over 20 million vaccine doses at their facility.
President Yoweri Museveni received his booster dose against the COVID-19 yesterday. He appealed to everybody to do the needful.
“If you belong to this group of 50+ get a booster dose. If 18 and above get vaccinated fully,” he said.