By Ajita Rijal/ Sampada A. Khatiwada

Kathmandu, Feb. 7: Invention and successful trials and eventually the arrivals of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from India have been a big sigh of relief to the Nepali people panicked for a year after the outbreak of the deadly virus.
The much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine finally arrived in Nepal in the form of grant from the southern neighbour in the last week of January and the first phase of nationwide vaccination drive began on January 27 and concluded on Saturday (February 6).
During the 10-day first phase drive, frontline workers, mostly the health workers, received the first jab. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, in 10 days, 184,745 got the jabs across country.
Government authorities, health experts and workers are found to be excited with the availability of the vaccines much before the expected time. However, people in general and even a few health workers seem lacking confidence on the vaccines. It is evident from the fact that Nepal could cover only less than half of the targeted number of people in the first phase of vaccination.
For a successful vaccination drive, people’s trust towards the vaccine is necessary. But it was found lacking in Nepal.
Dr. Shyam Raj Upreti, Coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee at the MoHP, said that the first vaccination drive in Nepal could not be considered successful in terms of coverage.
“As the 10-day immunisation campaign ended today, the number of vaccinated people did not reach 200,000 while our target was to inoculate 430,000 front line health workers in the first phase,” he added.
He gives two reasons for failing to meet the target.
“Firstly, the immunisation booths across the nation have been set at the district headquarters thereby barring the access of health personnel working in the rural areas,” said Dr. Upreti, adding, “Secondly, we somewhat failed to generate awareness about the importance of vaccination to overcome the pandemic prior to launching the campaign.”
“I think no one has expected that the vaccination campaign will take place this soon in Nepal,” said Dr. Rabindra Pandey, a public health expert. “This is why it was difficult for many people to take it.”
As a few health workers are exposed to misinformation and rumours on vaccine, more awareness is still needed to build trust and confidence in vaccines, said Dr. Pandey.
During the inoculation period of the first phase drive, we address vaccine hesitancy and tackle misinformation on the side effects, now we hope more confidence will be developed among the vaccine receivers in the second phase, added Dr. Jhalak Gautam, Chief of Child Health and Vaccine Department at the Department of Health.
It is very important to understand that even if some side effects are noticed after immunisation, people must take it easily, as it is a sign that the shot is working,” said Gautam.
Although some side effects were seen among the jab receivers, no any severe case has been reported during the first phase campaign, he added.
The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has already started preparations for the second phase of the vaccination drive.
The surplus COVID-19 vaccines from the first phase will be used for those falling in priority in the second phase of the inoculation.
Dr. Upreti said that plans were being made to vaccinate people aged above 55 years, as they fall in high risk group of COVID-19.
“We had planned to vaccinate around 430,000 frontline health workers in the first phase. As the number of people getting vaccinated is less than 200,000, the remaining doses of vaccines will be used in the second phase of our vaccination drive,” said Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the MoHP.
Dr. Gautam added, “The ministry has aimed to inoculate 30,000 government health workers, 60,000 female health volunteers, and 250,000 health workers registered in Nepal Health Council.”
However, as most of the health workers registered at the Council have fled abroad for employment or studies, the number of people receiving vaccines here is lesser than our target, he said.               
Dr. Gautam said that along with the front-line health workers, the employees of the immigration offices, customs offices, Tribhuvan International Airport and senior citizens of old age homes were also being inoculated.  
More vaccines to arrive
China on Friday pledged to provide 500,000 doses of vaccines in grant. Similarly, Nepal will be receiving 2,256,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX facility, according to the ‘Interim Distribution Forecast’ published by COVAX on Wednesday.
COVAX, co-led by Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (Gavi), informed that the UN Health Agency would start the distribution of vaccines by the end of February.
“For AZ/SII (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) and AZ (AstraZeneca) indicative distribution, delivery is estimated to begin as of late February,” read the forecast.
‘Covishield’ developed jointly by the Oxford University and AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India will be provided to Nepal under the facility.
“We are receiving ‘Covishield’ vaccine under COVAX programme which is preferred vaccine for us as the existing storage and transportation infrastructure used in the nation to immunise children can be brought in use,” said Dr. Jhalak Gautam.
“It will not be a problem for us to store the vaccines, as we have infrastructure suitable for it, the main thing is prioritised people must come forward and get the jab with trust and confidence,” added Dr. Gautam.
The Covishield vaccines can be stored at a temperature between two to eight degrees Celsius.The MoHP is also planning to procure four million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from India in the final phase.