The Nepali Government on Wednesday launched a nationwide coronavirus vaccination drive with the one million doses of Covishield vaccine provided by India.
The Indian Government had earlier pledged to donate vaccines to Nepal under grant assistance on par with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
PM KP Sharma Oli launched the vaccination drive during the inauguration ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday morning. Speaking at the ceremony, he said that all Nepalis would be vaccinated free of cost within three months.
The government hospitals across the country vaccinated as many as 9,084 doctors and frontline workers on the first day of the vaccination drive. The Director of Shukraraaj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Dr. Sagar Kumar Raj Bhandari, was the first to receive the vaccine.
According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the number of people who received the vaccine is as follows:
The Nepali Government has planned to vaccinate 430,000 frontline workers, including health workers, supporting staff at health facilities, health volunteers, security personnel, sanitation workers, older adults living in care homes, and prisoners, in the first phase.
So far, Nepal has reported 270,375 COVID-19 infection cases and 2,020 death cases. Currently, there are 3,286 active cases and 265,069 recovery cases.
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