Table 2 Makerere University SPH intervention enhanced uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Wakiso District, Uganda

Between October 2022 and September 2023, MakSPH implemented a project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation through Amref Health Africa to enhance the capacity of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Wakiso district to mobilize the community for COVID-19 vaccination and facilitate COVID-19 outreach vaccination campaigns by health facilities. The project also strengthened data management for COVID-19 vaccination. The project trained all CHWs in two Health Sub Districts in the district and supported them to conduct door-to-door health education and community mobilization for COVID-19 vaccination while targeting all households in their communities with unvaccinated members. Local stakeholders including local leaders and Community Based Organisations were also engaged to support community mobilization activities. The project supported health workers to conduct community-based COVID-19 vaccination outreaches and data officers at all public health facilities to ensure that records of all individuals vaccinated were entered into the Ministry of Health COVID-19 vaccination system. The project trained 503 stakeholders (local leaders, religious leaders, and other opinion shapers) who were engaged, and 994 CHWs trained and supported to mobilise community members for COVID-19 vaccination. During the project, a total of 19,384 community members were vaccinated against COVID-19 (8,089 first dose; 3,433 second dose; 7,862 third dose) from 115 vaccination outreaches held (an average of 168 people vaccinated per outreach). Over 2,100 COVID-19 vaccination data entries from earlier campaigns were also made. The project contributed to ensuring a high uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in the most populous district at a time when vaccination rates had been reported to be low.