PandemicPreparedness

2022

28 January: Owing to vero cell vaccine shortage, the vaccine advisory committee has recommended a different brand of vaccine be allowed as a booster dose for those who were vaccinated with vero cell as the second dose six months ago.

17 January: Media sources report that booster dose administration commenced in the country on 17 January. During the first week, only frontline workers will be administered the booster dose, after which individuals 60-years and above will be included in the programme. Booster doses will be given to those who have completed six months of the primary series. Additionally, officials have mandated proof of vaccination to utilise public services.

2021

13 December: A third dose has been recommended for those above 60 years and those with weak immunity. Vero cell vaccine may be used for this purpose. Meanwhile the government plans to administer Moderna vaccine among 12-18 years olds. These will be dispensed at schools from 19 December.

6 December: Nepali government is planning to administer boosters to those who have completed two doses three months ago. The vaccination campaign will also include students aged 12-18 years who will be vaccinated at schools. This plan will begin in January 2022.

13 August: Nepal has agreed with GAVI to procure 4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine via the COVAX facility, financed by the World Bank. These vaccines are expected to be delivered by March 2022.

13 July: Japan has donated 1.6 million doses of domestically manufactured AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal. The donation is managed through the COVAX facility.

The United States has donated over 1.5 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine to Nepal. To date there have been over 3.5 million doses administered, with over 965,000 people fully vaccinated.

9 July: At least 800,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine arrived in the country. Officials have purchased 4 million doses of which one million will arrive between 15 and 22 July. According to media sources, this is the first consignment of purchased vaccines to arrive in the country.

7 June: Around 1.4 million people above 65 years of age were provided the first shot of Covishield branded vaccine between 7th to 23rd March. Due to a poor supply of further Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India at this time, the government has decided that those awaiting their second dose can be given the AstraZeneca branded vaccine instead, which is the same composition.

2 June: China has granted one million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal, most of which were delivered on 1 June. These are planned for vaccination of the 60-64 age group, estimated at around 850,000 people. To date, 7% of Nepal’s population have received their first immunisation with approximately 2.3% having received 2 doses.

22 May: So far over 2,113,000 people have received at least one dose of vaccine, with over 500,000 having had two doses. See the WHO situation dashboard for the latest details. Several vaccines are in use - COVAXIN, Covishield, Sinopharm and Sputnik V.

28 April:Media are reporting that eligibility for vaccination has been opened to the 18-59 age group. Vaccination centres are adjusting operating hours to accommodate more vaccinations.

21 April: Sputnik V has been approved for use.

19 March: Nepal has given approval to the COVAXIN vaccine by Bharat Biotech for emergency use.

18 February: The Department of Drug Administration in Nepal has granted conditional approval to the Chinese made Sinopharm vaccine. Media reports that China will now donate half a million doses of the vaccine.

The country will also reportedly buy 2 million doses of the Covishield vaccine from India and receive over 2.25 million doses of Covishield through the initial COVAX distribution in the first half of 2021. Data for the Sputnik and India’s Bharat Biotech vaccines is being reviewed for potential approval.

10 February: The second phase of vaccination has started with Covishield. Journalists, officials at the diplomatic missions and frontline government employees are the priority groups for this phase.

28 January: Nepal began its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 on 27 January, administering doses to the first priority group comprising of frontline workers including healthcare workers and sanitation staff. The second group will constitute people over 55 years and those suffering from chronic conditions. Officials plan to distribute the general public above 18 years old in the third phase. The vaccine will be available free of cost.