Second dose of Chinese vaccine to be rolled out in valley from Sunday

The Ministry of Health and Population is rolling out the second dose of Vero Cell, the anti-COVID vaccine manufactured in China, in Kathmandu valley from Sunday.

Badri Bahadur Khadka, Health Chief at District Health Office, Kathmandu, informed that the vaccines will be administered to people between 18 to 59 years of age at 49 different health centres in Kathmandu district including 33 in the Metropolis. He told NepalNews that the district has planned to vaccinate the second doses with 160,000 vaccines of Vero Cell. He also informed that the vaccination is being carried out in seven districts including three districts of Kathmandu valley.

Those who had received the first dose of Vero Cell from April 7 to 10 will be given the second dose on May 16, those who received the first dose on April 11 and 12 will be given the second dose vaccines on May 17. Likewise, those who took the first dose on April 13 and 15 will be administered the second dose on May 18. Similarly, those taking the first dose of the vaccine on April 16 and 17 can take the second dose on May 19 and those taking the first dose on April 18 and 19 have been facilitated to take the second dose on May 20.

As the govt has imposed restrictions in the movement issuing prohibitory order, those taking the second dose will have to visit the vaccination centres and produce the cards they have received after taking the first dose.

Meanwhile, the data released by the Health Ministry showed that of the total 2,091,511 people vaccinated until now, 362,001 people have already been vaccinated with second dose as of April 28, 2021. 

However, Assistant Spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari told NepalNews that around 2.5 million people have already been vaccinated against COVID-19. As per the Central Bureau of Statics, the population of Nepal at present stands at 30,338,104.

Nepal has received a total of 3.248 million doses of COVID vaccines including 800,000 doses of Vero Cell as a grant from China. The country still needs around 57.5 million doses of vaccines to inoculate the cent per cent population.

Nepal received one million doses of Covishield vaccines from the Indian government on the grant, on January 21 and received another one million doses out of two million doses purchased from Serum Institute of India.

Similarly, 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines were made available for security personnel, according to Dr Adhikari.

Likewise, Nepal received 348,000 doses of Covishield through the United Nations' COVAX facility on March 7, and 800,000 doses of Vero Cell vaccines from China on the grant, on March 29.

The government launched the vaccination drive on January 27. At the time, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had declared that all Nepalis would be vaccinated free of cost within three months.

The first dose of Vero Cell vaccine was administered from April 7 to 28.

The government has made available an online form for people who want to be administered the COVID-19 vaccine. However, it has been informed that filling up the form does not mean that a person will get the vaccination immediately.

Presently, there are a total of 90 laboratories conducting RT-PCR tests in the country, Dr Adhikari, who is also Health Emergency Operation Centre Chief, informed. He said the PCR tests of those who tested positive in antigen tests and others who were suspected to be infected in the contact tracing are being carried out.

Dr Adhikari said the government has put effort into expanding laboratories to conduct PCR tests while the antigen tests will be continued in borders areas.