Uganda moves towards yellow fever elimination, seeks certification

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Uganda is seeking the World Health Organisation's (WHO) certification as a yellow fever-free country, following the completion of nationwide preventive vaccination campaigns that have reportedly reached over 30 million people.

The yellow fever vaccine was officially introduced into Uganda's routine immunisation schedule in October 2022 for children aged nine months, and phased mass vaccination campaigns (PMVC) have targeted individuals aged 1 to 60 years across the country.

Although Uganda remains classified as a high-risk country, Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (UNEPI) programme manager Dr Michael Baganizi says the country completed its final phase of preventive mass yellow fever vaccination in 2025, covering 19 districts and vaccinating 4.9 million people aged between one and 60 years.

“Cumulatively, more than 30 million Ugandans have been vaccinated against yellow fever across four national phases. The vaccine is given once and provides lifetime protection,” he told New Vision Online in an exclusive interview late January 2026.

The yellow fever vaccine is now part of routine immunisation and is administered at nine months of age. The health ministry is strengthening routine coverage, intensifying disease surveillance and initiating the process for WHO certification as a yellow fever-free country.

Baganizi added that vaccinated individuals can exchange their campaign cards for the international yellow fever travel certificate at regional referral hospitals at a cost of sh10,000.

Health leaders have urged parents to prioritise vaccine completion, warning that partial vaccination weakens protection.