At least 800 people in Uganda received fake Covid-19 vaccines in June from “unscrupulous people” as employers rushed to inoculate workers amid a spike in infections.
Some companies paid fees to have their employees vaccinated from their work premises, but the medical officials turned out to be fraudsters administering largely water, according to Warren Naamara, the director of State House Health Monitoring Unit.
Two people were arrested over the scam, he said by phone.
The East African country is battling a second wave exacerbated by the Delta variant. Cases have spiked to a cumulative 91,162 from 47,147 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry.
The nation with about 42.7 million people has received only 1.14 million AstraZeneca Plc doses through the Covax facility and a donation from the Indian government. It has administered just over 1.1 million.
The country is due to receive 285,600 doses under Covax this month and 687,800 in August as well as a donation of 300,000 doses from Sinovac in July.
Latest Stories
-
Space scientists reveal shocking devastation of mining as 84,000 football fields of forests gone
54 minutes -
Space science under siege: Encroachment threatens research as scientists battle mining devastation
1 hour -
Turkey’s opposition leader vows protests will continue ‘in every city’
1 hour -
Zimbabwe president fires army chief ahead of planned protests
1 hour -
Trump names conservative media critic as US ambassador to South Africa
2 hours -
US officials begin trade talks in Delhi as tariff deadline nears
2 hours -
Niger junta sets out five-year transition to constitutional rule
2 hours -
China tariffs may be cut to seal TikTok sale, Trump says
2 hours -
Militants kill 16 on Nigerian army base, military outpost, security sources say
2 hours -
Trump announces 25% tariffs on car imports to US
3 hours -
Suspect remanded in domestic violence case
3 hours -
Labour, 36, jailed over mobile phone theft
5 hours -
Mahama likely to assent to E-Levy repeal bill on Thursday – Deputy Finance Minister
5 hours -
Repealing of E-Levy is a positive sign – Ken Ashigbey
5 hours -
After many years in Nollywood, I’m still not a rich man – Jide Kosoko
6 hours