The Government of Canada provided 368,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Nepal on Tuesday.

The vaccines were delivered through the COVAX facility, an international vaccine sharing scheme backed by United Nations.

The vaccines were handed over to Secretary of Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) Roshan Pokharel by Honorary Consulate Buddha Basnyat.

It is reported that this delivery is the second shipment of vaccines donated by Canada to Nepal.

So far, Nepal has received AstraZeneca vaccines from Japan, UK, Bhutan and Maldives.

Nepal has used COVISHIELD vaccines manufactured by Serum Institute of India, Vero Cell by Shinopharm of China, AstraZeneca by EU countries, and Pfizer by the United States in association with German firm BioNTech.

As of now, the ministry is inoculating Pfizer vaccines to people above 12 years who are diagnosed with chronic diseases.

Around, 24.5% of Nepal’s population has been fully vaccinated since the vaccination drive started earlier this year in the 2020 first quarter.