Kathmandu: The government of Nepal has started the process of bringing anti-Covid vaccines for extra doses (booster doses) due to the increasing number of coronavirus infections in the neighboring countries.
The Ministry of Health and Population has formally written a letter to ‘GAVI’, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, to bring vaccines for booster doses.
Sagar Dahal, head of the vaccination branch of the Family Welfare Division of the Department of Health Service, informed that a letter has been sent to ‘GAVI’ for 1.5 million doses on Thursday.
GAVI will provide vaccines to Nepal through COVAX facility. “We have written a letter to COVAX yesterday to bring the vaccine for booster vaccination as the infection of Coronavirus is increasing”, he said.
He said that after receiving the information about the vaccine, the vaccine will be brought to Nepal soon. The government has started bringing the Pfizer vaccine which is used only for booster doses. The vaccine branch sent the letter to COVAX after giving the ’emergency permission use’ letter because it will only be used for booster doses by the drug administration department.
The spokesperson of the department, Santosh KC, informed that since it can be used only for booster doses, a letter has been given to the vaccination wing of the Family Welfare Division for permission.
“The department has given permission because it can only be used for booster doses”, he said, “The vaccine that has been brought for booster doses is different from regular vaccines, so permission had to be given.”
After the new variant of BF7 started spreading in the neighboring countries of India and China, the Ministry has requested everyone who missed booster vaccination to get vaccinated.
Similarly, the ministry has requested to use masks, maintain physical distance, wash hands with soapy water or use sanitizer regularly to avoid infection.
