KATHMANDU, March 7: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli received the coronavirus jab as the government opened its vaccination program for the wider population.

Oli and his spouse Radhika Shakya received the coronavirus jab at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) on Sunday morning.

With PM Oli receiving the jab, the second phase of immunization campaign began officially.

Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi and Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali also received the coronavirus jab at the TUTH this morning. 

The second phase of the immunization will cover the citizens above 65 years in the country. In the 15 mountain districts, people above 55 will be immunized. The target is to administer the vaccine to around 1.6 million senior citizens, according to health ministry officials.  Government-run health facilities will offer free coronavirus jabs to the general public. 

A total of 6,000 vaccination centers have been set up across the country for the purpose. The first phase of the campaign was organized from January 27 February 22, which targeted the frontline workers including health workers. A total of 429,000 people took the first doze of the Covishield vaccine in the first phase.

(With inputs from RSS) 

 
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