KATHMANDU, May 29: Nepal is soon to procure 10 million COVID-19 vaccines from China and America, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking in a virtual event organized by Health Journalist Forum on Friday, Pradeep Gyawali, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that Nepal is soon to get 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China and America. “There will be a breakthrough in vaccine import in 10 days or less,” he said.

The Chinese government has already announced to provide 1 million doses of COVID-19 under grant to Nepal on Wednesday.

According to Minister Gyawali,  negotiation is underway to procure 5 million doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine from America. Likewise, the Chinese government is also providing 5 million doses of the Vero Cell vaccine. However, an official announcement regarding the procurement of vaccines is yet to be made by both countries.

It will be cost effective to procure the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as a single shot of this vaccine is said to be enough to develop immunity power in the human body against COVID-19. Nepal is preparing to procure this vaccine, according to Dr Taranath Pokhrel, Chief of the Family Welfare Division at the MoHP.

The MoHP plans to vaccinate 72 percent of the total population of the country by the end of 2021.

As per the latest data, only 15 countries have secured 95 percent of COVID-19 vaccines so far. In contrast, 160 countries have secured only five percent.

 
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