Over 88 percent Nepalis abroad received full dose of COVID-19 vaccines: NRNA

LONDON, Jan 3: More than 88 percent of Nepali people living outside Nepal have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19. According to the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), more than 88 percent of Nepalese living in 51 countries have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Dr. Sanjiv Sapkota, Coordinator of the Health Committee of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Nepalese living in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Maldives, USA, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Bahrain, Africa, South Korea and others have been fully vaccinated. However, in countries like India and Bangladesh, less than 70 percent of Nepalese have been fully vaccinated.

It is found that more than 90 percent of Nepali nationals living in African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, where less than 30 percent of the general population has been vaccinated, have been fully vaccinated.

According to the information received by the Health Committee, the vaccination rate of Nepalese living outside Nepal is high as compared to others. Similarly, Nepalese nationals are also found to have received booster doses where available. Till now, 90 percent Nepalese in Belgium have taken booster doses.

According to Dr Sapkota, more than 60 percent Nepalese living in the UK have taken the booster dose. Nepali health workers working abroad have also received the third vaccine. Currently, 51 percent of the world's population is fully vaccinated.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Health Committee under the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has been conducting various health awareness programs to collect data on the health status of Nepalese living abroad, keeping in view of their health condition in view of the growing menance of the COVID-19.