The Ugandan government has said over 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, purchased through a World Bank loan by the government have expired, according to an audit report.
The audit report stated that the vaccines were valued at 28.1 billion Ugandan shillings ($7.3m; £5.8m) and that these vaccines would be withdrawn from health facilities and destroyed.
In the report, Uganda’s Auditor General, John Muwanga reveals that drugs, primarily HIV antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), worth $8.6m have expired due to changes in WHO treatment guidelines.
Head of Uganda’s Drug Procurement Agency, Moses Kamabare confirmed that authorities have anticipated total losses from expired COVID-19 vaccines to exceed $78m by year-end, with declining demand contributing to the issue.
