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. 2025 Apr 15;25(1):1406.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22733-0.

Integrating COVID-19 vaccination into routine healthcare: a feasible model for epidemic response at mildmay hospital Uganda

Collins Ankunda  1   2 , Sandra Chandini  3 , Sharon Namasambi  4 , Nantongo Irene  3 , Lazarus Wana  3 , Victor Nanono  4 , Francine Louisa Musana  4 , Joseph Mwaka  4 , Susan Nakubulwa  4 , Ronald Mulebeke  4 , Yvonne Karamagi  3   4
Affiliations

Integrating COVID-19 vaccination into routine healthcare: a feasible model for epidemic response at mildmay hospital Uganda

Collins Ankunda et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic overwhelmed healthcare systems globally, integrating vaccination into primary health services became essential to expedite immunization efforts, especially in resource-constrained settings. This report explains the multifaceted process of integrating COVID-19 vaccination services at Mildmay Hospital Uganda (MUgH), focusing on the strategies, challenges and outcomes associated with this project.

Methods: MUgH, a general hospital in Uganda, implemented COVID-19 vaccination services between March 2021 and December 2022. Using the 7 S framework; Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, Staff, and Strategy, the hospital aligned resources effectively. Structure was strengthened by creating dedicated vaccination areas, optimized Staff through targeted training, and aligned Skills for task-specific roles. Strong Systems ensured streamlined vaccine administration, while strategic Style (management) fostered adaptability. Collaborations with the Wakiso District unit supported Shared Values for public health, and social media was used effectively to counter misinformation and engage the community.

Results: MUgH successfully administered 13,370 of 15,000 available COVID-19 vaccine doses, including 8,906 first doses, 3,568 s doses, and 84 boosters. MUgH's collaborative approach, reinforced by targeted media engagement and strategic partnerships with local vaccine distributors, secured a steady vaccine supply and built public trust. This demonstrated the value of a resource-efficient and adaptable model in addressing community healthcare needs. Key challenges included labour-intensive shifts, task-shifting among staff, misinformation and hesitancy, occasional vaccine stock-outs, and managing demand from ineligible individuals.

Conclusion: Integrating COVID-19 vaccination into MUgH services using the 7 S framework proved effective in enhancing healthcare resilience and public health. This adaptable model offers valuable insights for strengthening health systems and preparing resource-limited settings for future epidemic responses.

Keywords: 7 S framework; COVID-19 vaccination; Epidemic Response; Healthcare integration; Mildmay Hospital Uganda; Primary health services.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This report did not involve human participants or the use of data from a publicly accessible database. As such, informed consent and institutional ethics approval were not applicable. No experimental protocols involving human subjects were conducted. Nonetheless, the report adheres to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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