With the COVID-19 vaccines finally rolling out, the countries across the globe have swung into diplomatic action to acquire them as early as possible to save their vulnerable population from the deadly virus. Last Tuesday, 90-year-old retiree Margaret Keenan from the UK became the first person to receive a shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The mass vaccination has also started in Russia since last Saturday. Other vaccine candidates Moderna (USA), Oxford-AstraZeneca (UK), 'Sputnik-V' and Gamaleya (Russia) and 'Sinovac' (China) are in their last phase of trials and will probably be launched soon. The producers of these vaccines have already struck deals with many countries for their procurement, shipment and time supply in the destination nations. It is a matter of great happiness that the end of the pandemic is in sight as different vaccines are going to be tested and applied for the mass immunisation soon.

While welcoming this scientific achievement, it is imperative to follow the medical ethics that the people, who are at higher risk of catching the virus, should be the first priority in the vaccination drive. Nepal that is witnessing the rising number of virus-related fatalities is in the utmost need of the life-saving shots. The Ministry of Health and Population is making every effort to ensure that anti-COVID-19 vaccines are available here without delay. It has formed the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee and it has already sent diplomatic letters on December 4 for the vaccines to be brought through COVAX Facility comprised of three global institutions - the World Health Organisation (WHO), Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) and CEPI. It seeks to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and guarantee fair and equitable access for the poor and low-income countries.

As per the news report of this daily, the government is planning to inoculate 72 per cent of the population against COVID-19 so as to boost the immune power at the community level and the rest of the population need not be vaccinated. No vaccine has been tested on children so far and the plan is to vaccinate all except the children. The government is to vaccinate 20 per cent of the population in the first phase. The vaccines to be brought through the COVAX Facility will be administered to the frontline health workers, security personnel and the elderly people. It plans to acquire 52 per cent of vaccines through government-to-government (G2G) procurement process and has set aside Rs 48 billion for the purpose. Experts are of the view that the vaccine developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca has been found appropriate in the case of Nepal as it can be stored at two to eight degree Celsius temperature.

The other day Deputy Prime Minister and coordinator of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) Directive Committee Ishwor Pokhrel held discussions with various ministers and secretaries on the progress made for the vaccination against coronavirus. The government has expedited a process for purchasing and making the vaccine available to the public at the earliest possible. It deserves kudos for the decision to provide vaccines to the people free of cost. The government’s timely initiative to procure vaccines is praiseworthy but it should also inform the public about all its efforts and expenditures related to prevention and control of pandemic and treatment of the COVID-19 patients.