POKHARA, August 9: The government of Nepal has started to administer the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines to people who have already received their first shot of the vaccine from Monday. Although the health department of Pokhara Metropolitan City had designated 23 vaccination centers, a huge number of elderlies could be seen waiting outside vaccination centers to receive their second dose. 

According to Hemanta Sharma, chief of the metropolis’s health department, the vaccination campaign will last for three days. There were previously 19 vaccination centers. Four more centers had been added to distribute the vaccines, he said.

The three-day campaign has set a target to vaccinate about 35,000 people living in the metropolis. The current vaccination drive is focused on school teachers and people above the age of 55. The increase of trust in vaccines and the weak structure of vaccination centers has led huge crowds to gather outside vaccination centers, Sharma said. 

The selected age group had to suffer a lot to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine after volunteers assigned to local wards prioritized their relatives and friends in administering the vaccines. Long lines of people have piled up in vaccination centers since early morning to receive their second shot. Also, people have complained about the ill-management of lines at the vaccine centers.

Furthermore, a limited number of vaccines in vaccination centers have added to the suffering of people who have come to receive their jab. Many people have been deprived of vaccines due to this problem.

Earlier, one line for both genders to receive the vaccine had created problems while receiving the vaccine. There are currently two lines for males and females which has eased the vaccination drive at the moment.

 
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