KATHMANDU: The government of Nepal has paid NRs 930 million to the Serum Institute of India to purchase the vaccine against COVID-19.
The cabinet meeting decided to pay in advance for the purchase of the vaccine.
Director General of Health Services Dr. Dipendra Man Singh said that the amount was paid to Serum as per the decision of the government. Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi said that the vaccine would be sent within two weeks and that the vaccination would start from March 7 for the people aged over 60 years.
According to him, an agreement has been reached with the Serum Institute to provide the vaccine at a concessional rate of $4 per vaccine. The Serum Institute of India is committed to provide one million doses of the vaccine in two phases.
The Indian government had given Nepal one million doses of vaccine as a grant. Vaccination service is being operated in Nepal from the grant vaccine. According to the Ministry of Health, 2.2 million doses of Covax vaccine will arrive in Nepal by the end of February.
