As the number of active COVID-19 cases in Nepal has been rising considerably once again with the relaxation of restrictions, the country might go through a more distressing situation in the near future. The months-long curbs were effective, to some extent, in dealing with the pandemic. But the restrictions also had their adverse impacts on the economic as well as social sectors.

It is needless to mention that the current global public health crisis has left the national economy in tatters and exacerbated the problem of unemployment and livelihood difficulties. Several million people are believed to have lost their jobs since the outbreak of the contagion about 19 months ago. A sense of fear among the general populace has been created with the tracing of new variants of the virus and the possibility of a more infectious third wave.

However, the government has laid the much-needed focus on containing COVID-19 through intensified vaccination campaign. It is working hard to vaccinate all the eligible citizens against this fatal viral disease by mid-April next year. It plans to administer the vaccine to one-third of the population within the next two months.

This pandemic can be contained only through vaccines and following health safety norms such as wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands. As of now, as many as 7.8 million people in Nepal have got at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. With the import of more doses of various COVID-19 vaccines in recent times, the inoculation drive has now been going on smoothly. Some 367,000 people are now receiving the shots on a daily basis.

The government has not only increased the number of vaccination centres but also mobilised more health workers across the nation so as to accelerate and expand the inoculation process. Besides, it has added health infrastructures across the nation.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government would import additional 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by upcoming mid-October. An effective management and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to fight the contagion. The government is working on immediate, mid-term and long-term strategies to rein in the virus and revive the economy battered by the pandemic.

In its Common Minimum Programme (CMP) made public last week, the government has come up with various programmes to tackle the contagion and give a boost to the economy. It will take all measures necessary to receive more vaccines if necessary and ensure the just distribution of the life-saving jabs.

Addressing the Economic Summit-2021 held here in the capital on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba added: “Our strategies against COVID-19 will be based on scientific suggestions and the consultations of health experts.” The government has adopted a policy on the post-vaccine economy to keep the aggregate economic stability intact and prepare a framework for necessary relief programmes to entrepreneurs and business enterprises.

The government has already announced to provide COVID-19 vaccines and reliefs to the virus-hit sectors, including tourism, transport, party palace and departmental stores. The government has given top priority to protection of small investors and entrepreneurs and the promotion of small and medium-scale enterprises through different targeted programmes.

It is noteworthy that the government has come forward with a two-pronged strategy of running the vaccination drive and implementing the economic recovery plan simultaneously.