Kathmandu India will distribute 1 million Kovid-19 vaccines in Nepal, the first batch of which will reach Kathmandu on Thursday. Nepal’s Health and Population Minister Hridesh Tripathi gave this information on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Quatra, Tripathi said that the Government of India would hand over the Kovid vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII) to Nepal.
“India will send the first consignment of vaccines on Thursday,” Tripathi said.
The first consignment of vaccines will be given to frontline workers and health workers, numbering about 1 million in the country.
India’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday confirmed that Nepal is in the list of countries to which it will start supplying vaccines.
Tripathi said, “This is a result of the excellent relations between Nepal and India. We thank the Government of India for this support.”
The Serum Institute of India is producing a Kovishield developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
Nepal’s drug regulator last week approved Kovishield for emergency use.
The Ministry of Health and Population has prepared a priority list of those who will be given the coronavirus vaccine. All health workers working in central and state-run and private health facilities, who are at greater risk of infection, have been placed on the first priority.
Along with this, the support staff, including drivers, sanitation workers of health facilities, security personnel posted in the front line and women community health volunteers, have also been placed in the priority list.
Each person is to be given two doses of the vaccine.
Tripathi said, “This is an incomparable example of Nepal-India friendship. India has taken a great political decision for Nepal and other neighbors. We would like to thank everyone.”
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