Govt sends official letter to GAVI for booster vaccines

The government has begun the process of bringing 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 the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), to bring vaccines for booster doses. Sagar Dahal, head of the vaccination branch of the family welfare division of the health service department, informed that a letter has been sent to 'GAVI' for 1.5 million vaccines on Thursday.

GAVI will provide vaccines to Nepal through the Kovacs facility. "We have written a letter to Kovax yesterday to bring the vaccine for booster vaccination as the infection of coronavirus is increasing", he said, "Kovax will send the vaccine in the third week of this month."

He said that after receiving the information about the vaccine, it 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 Kovacs 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 VF7 started spreading in the neighboring countries of India and China, the Ministry requested everyone who missed booster vaccination to get vaccinated. Similarly, the ministry has requested to use mandatory masks, maintain physical distance, wash hands with soapy water or use sanitizer regularly to avoid infection.