Kathmandu: Nepal has sought help from India in acquiring COVID-19 vaccine for around 20 percent of its population. A media reported on Wednesday said that more than1800 people have died due to this pandemic in the Himalayan nation, while more than 2.6 lakh people have been infected. According to the Kathmandu Post news, the Nepal government has written to the Indian government, requesting for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate around 20 per cent of the Nepali population. The newspaper said that Nepal will pay for the vaccines received from India.
Oxford’s AstraZeneca and indigenously developed Bharat Biotech’s vaccines are in the final stages of Phase III trials in India.
“To get the vaccines at the earliest, the government has requested the Indian government to buy vaccines for 20 per cent Nepalis,” the paper said, quoting a Health Ministry official. Nepal is also pursuing vaccines made in other countries.
Coordinator of Nepal’s COVID-19 vaccine advisory committee, Dr. Shyam Raj Upreti said, “Around 15 vaccines from different countries and companies are in the third phase of testing. The government has written to most countries and companies for procurement to help.” The news said that the government had sent diplomatic notes to India, China, Russia, Britain and the United States last month for the early availability of the vaccine to Nepal.
Vaccines in these countries against the corona virus have either been fully prepared or are nearing completion in the third phase. India assured the people of Nepal last month that once its vaccine against COVID-19 is made, meeting its needs is one of New Delhi’s priorities.