By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Nov. 10: Nepal has administered 73.4 per cent of the procured vaccine to the people so far.

Nepal has received 22 million 80 thousand and 930 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 through procurement and grants so far. Of the total 16 million 216 thousand and 626 doses of vaccines have been administered to the people. 8.7 million 47 thousand and 712 people have got full doses of vaccines while 7.4 million 68 thousand and 914 people have got their first shot.

According to Bharat Bhandari, Immunisation Officer at Child Health and Immunisation Section, all the procured vaccines have been used without any wastage, as a result, 73.4 percent of vaccines received by Nepal have been well administered to the people.

Bade Babu Thapa, a senior pharmacist of the supply management branch under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), said that, of the 22 million 80 thousand and 930 doses of anti-COVID vaccines delivered in the country, 16 million 216 thousand and 626 have been administered to the people, 4.6 million doses are stocked at the central and provincial storage units and remaining 1.2 million doses are at district and local health services unit.

“Similarly, 100,620 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be administered to chronically ill patients from November, 14 from 24 major hospitals across the nation and 1.6 million doses of Vero Cell procured from China will be administered soon following the vaccination campaign of Pfizer,” he added.

Anti-COVID-19 vaccines procured so far

Nepal has got 13 million doses of Vero Cell through procurement from China while the country received 3.5 million doses of Vero Cell from China as a grant.

Of the total vaccines received from China, 16 million 216 thousand and 626 doses have been already administered to the people so far.

Bharat Bhandari, Immunisation Officer at Child Health and Immunisation Section, said, “Nepal has received 10 lakh doses of Covishield /Astra Zeneca vaccine as a grant from India and has bought 20 lakh from India. In addition, Nepal has received a total of 1 lakh doses of Covishield and 3, 48,000 doses of Covishield under the COVAX facility by WHO.

While exploring the procurement of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, Nepal has received 2,30,000 as a grant from Bhutan, 16,14,740 from the government of Japan under the COVAX facility,  1,31,120 doses from the United Kingdom, and 2,01,600 doses from the Maldives.

Similarly, as many as 15, 34, 850 doses of the Johnson &Johnson vaccine have been received by Nepal under the COVAX facility by the United States.

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the number of people getting the first dose of vaccine in Nepal has reached 87, 36,532. Similarly, the number of people who have been vaccinated with both doses has reached 74, 36,714.

Future expected procurement of the anti-COVID vaccine

“Nepal is receiving grants, support from COVAX facility and is in process of purchasing anti-COVID-19 vaccine. 20 percent of total anti-COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive from COVAX facility and 11.3 million of vaccines will arrive from COVAX facility,” said Immunisation Officer Bhandari.

He further said that 25 million 548 thousand and 760 doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in Nepal, that include 144,000 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine, 9.9 million 16 thousand and 400 doses of Vero Cell, 4.1 million 88 thousand and 140 doses of Moderna, 5oo thousand doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 6 million lakh doses of Pfizer.

Of these vaccines, Nepal has already paid to procure Pfizer and Moderna with the help of the World Bank's concessional loan. 1 million doses of Moderna will be received by Nepal in the first phase and 5 million in the second phase.

 So far, 43.09 percent of targeted people have received a full dose of vaccine against COVID-19 while 37.03 per cent have received a single dose of vaccine.