No import of vaccine against COVID-19 with decreasing cases

By Sharad Sharma, Kathmandu, Dec 17: With the decreasing cases of coronavirus infection in the country of late, the import of vaccines against coronavirus has stopped.     

The vaccine has not been brought for the past three months as there is a stock of vaccines against coronavirus following the sharp decline in coronavirus infection, said Chief of the Department of Health Services Supply Management Section, Dr Surendra Chaurasiya.

The coronavirus infection rate is now below one per cent in the country. The country recorded no cases of coronavirus in course of conducting 846 tests on December 16.

Dr Chaurasiya shared, "The government had brought 1.499 million doses of vaccine against coronavirus under COVAX facility on September 12 for the last time. Provinces and districts have not demanded vaccines against coronavirus. So we have not brought the vaccine for now. But we will bring the necessary vaccine for a booster dose." 

However, the government has made preparation to bring a vaccine for a booster dose. Chaurasiya said preparation has been made to bring the vaccine for an additional dose for those who have already administered the first and second doses. 

One million doses of vaccine were brought from India for the first time on January 21, 2021, to prevent and control coronavirus infection in the country. A total of 63.27 million doses have been brought so far. 

There is now a stock of 4.921 million doses of vaccine in the country. Of the total targeted population, 99.5 per cent population has received the first dose of the vaccine and 95.7 per cent population full dose of the vaccine. 

Similarly, of the total population, 79.5 per cent population received the first dose while 76.5 per cent population got the full dose. (RSS)