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Kapelebyong district authorities on Monday resolved to extend the yellow fever vaccination exercise to enable the targeted people to get their jabs.

The exercise was formally meant to close today countrywide, April 8, 2024, but Kapelebong, which had targeted to vaccinate 100,944 people, had only vaccinated 67,529 by yesterday, representing 65%.

“Two more mop-up days have been added, meaning the exercise will close on the 10th of April,” said Emmanuel Opio the communication officer.

He explained that even after the mass vaccination, those who would have missed again can get vaccinated at health centres.

The Government budgeted the allowances for the people taking part in the exercise to be paid for only days without an extension.

When asked whether the district will meet the health officers’ and data collectors’ dues for the two additional days, Opio said that the district is determined to ensure that the workers' allowance shall be catered for.

“We shall try to look into our coffers to ensure that the workers are paid because we have performed below expectations,” Opio noted.

He said that they are aiming to achieve 95% of the targeted population and the balance can walk to the health centres within them.

“We have stepped up sensitisation because people were circulating wrong information about the vaccine. We are using all means of communication including burials, and community meetings for talking to the people,” Opio explained.

Yellow fever is a viral infection that spreads to humans through a bite of a mosquito infected with the yellow fever germ.

It causes fever, yellowing of the eyes, and bleeding from openings of the body such as the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears among others.