The Government of Uganda is to prevent pneumonia among children. It has started distributing the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to children below the age of five.

The first batch of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was delivered in Uganda in December last year and its distribution started in January 14.

About 40 districts namely Ntungamo, Kabohe, Mbarara, Kagadi, Kibale, Ntoroho, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Kanungu, Kisoro, Igara Mitooma, Bundibugyo, Hoima
and Kashari have satisfied the requirements set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and they will receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. State minister for primary healthcare Sarah Opendi says other districts did not meet the criteria after an 8-months country assessment.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine offers children protection against pneumonia and some forms of Meningitis. The World Health Organisation estimates that pneumonia kills over 1.6 million children under the age of five per year and accounts for 18% of all deaths of children under the age of five.
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