By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Aug. 20: The government has decided to administer the remaining 8 lakh doses of Astra Zeneca to students above 18 years as well as to people entering Nepal through different checkpoints in 5 provinces.

Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudur Paschim provinces have run the vaccination campaign to inoculate senior citizens with a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, substituting Astra Zeneca for Covishield, due to the lack of the latter. Even then, 8 lakh shots of Astra Zeneca are remaining.

Dr. Taranath Pokhrel, director of the Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services, said that after inoculating senior citizens above 65 years with Astra Zeneca as the second dose of Covishield vaccine, the remaining 8 lakhs doses of AstraZeneca will be administered to students as well as the people entering Nepal through various borderpoints.

Dr. Pokhrel observed that many people above 65 years had already received their second dose because of which doses of Astra Zeneca meant for using in place of Covishiled have remained in stock. 

"Therefore, to utilize it, we have made a decision to administer the remaining vaccine to other people besides the targeted group," he said.

Dr. Bharat Bhandrai, Immunization Officer at the Child Health and Immunisation Section, said, “The remaining 8 lakh shots of Astra Zeneca will be administered to people in Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudur Paschim provinces. Province 1 and Province 2 are yet to inoculate senior citizens above 65 years,” said Dr. Bhandari.

He added that Province 1 and 2 will receive Astra Zeneca following the delivery of Astra Zeneca shots from Japan tomorrow.

Nepal has received 1.6 million doses of Astra Zeneca from Japan and 3 lakh doses from Bhutan.