Men in Oyam shun yellow fever vaccination for fear of loosing manhood

14 June 2023, 2:29 pm

By Voice of Lango Editorial (editor@vol.co.ug) 

Oyam

A section of men in Oyam district are reportedly shunning the ongoing Yellow fever vaccination exercise for fear of “losing their manhood.”

Dr. Carolyn Agaro, the acting District Health Officer of Oyam said most men in the district have refused to get vaccinated against yellow fever, relying on a myth that the vaccine affects their sexual performance.

She said this has resulted in only 27.8% of the population getting vaccinated against yellow fever, a representative of 127,062 people, much as they had projected to vaccinate 432,106 people.

Dr. Agaro encouraged people especially men to get vaccinated against yellow fever since the vaccine does not effect their manhood and the exercise has been extended in the district until today.

Oyam Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech warned to arrest parents who have refused to take their children for yellow fever vaccination.

Beatrice Okello, the secretary for health and education of Oyam district encourages people to go for Yellow Fever vaccination to boost their immunity against the disease.

Rev. Jackson Nyanga Otim, the arch deacon of Abok while speaking at Abok massacre memorial prayer recently warned religious leaders against de-campaigning vaccination exercises like it was the case with Covid-19 vaccination.

On 8th June 2023, government of Uganda launched vaccination of 13 million people in 51 districts against Yellow Fever at a function presided by minister of health, Dr. Jane Aceng Ochero at Lira city mayors’ garden.

The first phase of the yellow fever vaccination exercise supported by Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization [UNEPI] was conducted in Lango, Acholi, West Nile, Bunyoro, Kigezi and Ankole regions where prevalence of Yellow fever remains high.

The exercise begun on 9th June 2023 till 13th June 2023 but was extended in Oyam district till today.

The second phase of Yellow fever vaccination will be launched in August for 53 districts and the third phase will be conducted next year in 36 districts across the country.