Johnson &  Johnson and Moderna, the two American Covid-19 vaccines manufacturers, have expressed their inability to supply vaccines to Nepal this year, dashing the hopes of the Nepal government to sign deals with the two leading American pharma companies. 

Earlier in the third week of April, Nepal, through its embassy in Washington, approached these two firms for vaccines. However, In June, both companies have ruled out the possibility of selling shots to the country before 2022, citing supply chain constraints, reported The Kathmandu Post. 

The country had also approached Novavax, a Baltimore-based pharmaceutical company, which recently carried out a successful trial of its vaccine and is awaiting US Food and Drug Administration clearance. “They too cited their commitment to COVAX and expressed inability to make a commercial supply to Nepal in the near term,” the embassy said.

India had already halted the export of vaccines, and COVAX, a WHO facility to provide vaccines to lower and middle-income group countries, communicated delays in the supply. With this, Chinese firms--Sinopharm and Sinovac--remain the only option for Nepal to sign commercial agreements. 

Earlier, this month, the US has confirmed providing vaccines to Nepal. Details regarding the quantity and delivery timetable haven’t been disclosed yet. 

Meanwhile, Nepali authorities are still negotiating contracts with Chinese firms for the delivery of four million vaccines. 

(SAM)