Nepal is set to begin the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccination drive from March 7 as the Ministry of Health and Population has already started efforts to secure sufficient doses of vaccines to inoculate all above the age of 55 years. 

According to a report on The Kathmandu Post, the government currently has a stock of over 400,000 doses of Covishield, donated by India, and another tranche of 500,000 Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive from China this month. 

Also, the Himalayan country is expected to receive 2.2 million doses of Covishield from the WHO’s Covax facility by the end of March. 

Earlier this week, Nepal Cabinet approved 80 percent of the down payment to Serum Institute if India to procure 2 million doses of Covishield through a commercial contract. 

Earlier reports indicated that the Nepal government was trying to secure vaccines under grants, or concessional rates with government to government deals with various countries. 

Around 3.3 million people are above the age of 55 in the country and are expected to get vaccinated in this phase. 

In the first phase, the government aimed to inoculate 4,30,000 people, mainly frontline workers and personnel of security forces.