July 08, Kathmandu.
The Ministry of Health has stated that the first preference will be given to the age group of 60 to 64 years. After that, the ministry plans to apply in the age group of 55 to 60 years.
The government has recently agreed to buy 4 million doses from a Chinese Synopharm company. As per the agreement, the first batch of eight lakh doses of vaccine has reached Kathmandu on Friday morning. Even after this, the government plans to bring continuous vaccines through Nepal Airlines.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Dr. Krishna Prasad Poudel told online news, “The age group of 60 to 64 years is the first priority for vaccination. Then we give it to 55 to 60-year-olds and other groups. But no decision has been made about the other group.
He said that the shipment of vaccines brought from China will be started immediately. "We will send all the details of the vaccine to the provinces as soon as it is entered into the computer," he said. The vaccine should be kept at a certain temperature. As there is not enough space for that, the ministry will start sending vaccines outside the Kathmandu Valley as soon as they come from China. Poudel said.
The vaccine brought to Nepal is kept in the wet storage of Tribhuvan Airport. Teku and Pathalaiya also have central-level storage centers. There are regional level storage centers in Hetauda, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, and Dhangadhi. Ministry officials say there is a plan to keep the vaccine in storage facilities at private or other government offices if there is a shortage of space.
The government plans to start vaccinating districts after the vaccines are delivered to the storage centers.
The Chinese Vero cell vaccine can be stored at a temperature of two to eight degrees Celsius. This unopened vaccine can be used for up to two years. Experts say that if the seal is opened and vaccination is started, the vaccine should be given within six hours. Versal vaccine should be given in two doses.
