Strengthening Uganda’s Health System through Typhoid Vaccination: A Cost-Effectiveness Review with Rural and Urban Perspectives

Bizimana Rukundo T.

Faculty of Biological Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

                                                                                                     ABSTRACT
Typhoid fever remains a significant public health burden in Uganda, particularly in rural and urban areas where poor sanitation, limited access to safe water, and overstretched healthcare systems facilitate persistent transmission. Despite recurrent outbreaks and high morbidity, the country has yet to fully integrate typhoid vaccination into its national immunization strategy. This review examines the cost-effectiveness and health system implications of introducing typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) in Uganda, with attention to rural–urban disparities. Evidence indicates that vaccination not only reduces disease incidence and treatment costs but also mitigates antimicrobial resistance and alleviates pressure on health facilities. In urban settings, vaccination helps control outbreaks fueled by overcrowding and poor sanitation, while in rural areas, it addresses gaps created by weak infrastructure and delayed access to healthcare. Policy integration of TCVs within the Expanded Programme on Immunization, combined with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) improvements, offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution. The findings underscore vaccination as a transformative strategy to strengthen Uganda’s health system, enhance equity, and secure long-term public health resilience.

Keywords: Typhoid fever, Uganda, typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV), cost-effectiveness, rural health.

CITE AS: Bizimana Rukundo T. (2026). Strengthening Uganda’s Health System through Typhoid Vaccination: A Cost-Effectiveness Review with Rural and Urban Perspectives. Research Output Journal of Biological and Applied Science 6(1):6-10.
https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJBAS/2026/61610