KATHMANDU, March 24: Nepal Airlines is sending a plane on Sunday to China to bring 800,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccines will be brought to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Monday, according to the Department of Health Services.
NAC’s widebody aircraft bringing 1 million COVID vaccines from...
The announcement to provide 800,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the Chinese government was made some 45 days ago. The Department points to the selection of aircraft, route and other processes as a cause for delay.
The government will continue the national COVID-19 vaccination drive once the vaccines arrive from China, said Dr Jalak Gautam, chief of the vaccine section under the Division of Family Welfare. “However, the targeted group for the vaccination is yet to be decided,” he added.
“People above 55 and those who have chronic disease are likely to be inoculated this time,” said Dr Shyamraj Upetry.
After a delay in vaccine procurement from India, the government had postponed the vaccination drive.