By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Jan.4: Additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines are being administered to the immunosuppressed and critically ill patients from today.

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) informed that the additional dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccine will be administered to the immune-suppressed people, HIV-infected people, and patients taking immune-suppressed drugs during treatment, as well as senior citizens who have already received the full dose of the Vero Cell vaccine.

According to Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari, assistant spokesperson at the MoHP, the third dose is being administered to the target population aged above 18 years from all the vaccination centers.

“Those who have completed three months post-vaccination can get the booster dose,” he added.

He said that the inoculation drive beginning from today was an additional dose for the immuno-compromised people and not a booster dose.

He added, "Additional vaccines will be provided from all vaccination centers apart from those that are inoculating the children currently."

"For the third dose, the target group needs to show the doctor’s recommendation and vaccination card of both doses," said Dr. Adhikari.  

The additional dose is being provided on the recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine advisory committee.