Kathmandu, June 2 – The government will be launching a next round of COVID-19 vaccination campaign from June 8 targeting a chunk of population belonging to the 60-64 years of age.The Ministry of Health and Population said last Tuesday, 900 thousand doses of China-manufactured anti-COVID-19 vaccine were received while additional 100 thousand doses will be arriving from Tibet today.

It may be noted that the Government of China had announced to provide one million doses of Vero Cell to Nepal on grant a few days ago following a telephone talks between President Bidya Devi Bhandari and her Chinese Counterpart Xi Jinping. During the tele-talks, President Bhandari requested her Chinese counterpart for the vaccine.Senior citizens would be administered the vaccine only after ensuring the booster dose of it. More, people above 18 years of age in the districts bordering China will also be given vaccine along with the senior citizens.

The number of population from 60-64 years of age eligible for the vaccine is around 800 thousand. The Ministry has requested for carrying an official document either the citizenship, or any document revealing age or a recommendation letter given by the respective ward offices while going for vaccination. In Nepal, 2,113,080 population have got the first dose of the vaccine while the number of recipients of the full course (two doses) is 714,163.

Prior to this, Nepal was provided one million doses of Covishield on grants from India, 800 thousand of Vero Cell from China and 348,000 doses under the COVAX facility. Besides, it had purchased (additional) one million doses of Covishield from India. (RSS)