KATHMANDU, Jan 29: The government has started administering a 'booster' dose of coronavirus to senior citizens above 60 years of age.

Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari, Joint Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), said the government has resumed administering booster doses for the senior citizens above 60 years of age who have completed six months of vaccination against the virus. A ministerial meeting chaired by Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada on Friday sent letters to the District Health Offices of all 77 districts for the vaccination.

Based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization on January 21 and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on January 26, the MoHP has started giving booster doses to senior citizens. The Ministry has written to give Covishield or AstraZeneca vaccine to those who have been vaccinated with Covishield, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer or Verocell under the first and second doses, whereas provide the same vaccine as the first one or Covishield or AstraZeneca for the second dozes.

Similarly, it has also been requested to provide Covishield or AstraZeneca vaccine as the second dose for those who have been vaccinated with the first dose of Covishield, AstraZeneca, Verocell, Modern and Pfizer abroad. The ministry had provided booster doses to those working in the front line in the first phase from January 16. Till now, booster doses have been given to 299,000 people.

 
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