Biratnagar, Jan. 18: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada informed that 40 per cent of the total population of Nepal was inoculated against COVID-19 until Sunday evening.
Addressing a press meet organised by the Socialist Press Organisation of the ruling CPN (Unified Socialist) in Biratnagar on Monday morning, Minister Khatiwada said that a total of 80 per cent population aged above 18 years were vaccinated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 60 per cent were vaccinated with the second dose until Sunday.

“Along with the vaccines we have in stock, our access to additional 20 million COVID-19 vaccines has already been ensured. Thus, we will not face a shortage of anti-coronavirus vaccines in the future,” said Minister Khatiwada.

Stating that the vaccination drive had slowed down in recent times due to the lack of participation from the public, Minister Khatiwada said that the government was preparing to conduct door-to-door vaccination programmes.

“We are preparing to provide inoculation service by establishing vaccination desks in public places,” he said.
Informing that booster dose could not be distributed until people get their first and second jab, Minister Khatiwada said that the Health Ministry had directed all three tiers of government to frame a plan of action to provide door-to-door vaccination service. He also added that the concerned authorities were requested to set up more vaccination centres as required to intensify the vaccination campaign.

“Over 200,000 vaccines are currently in stock in Province 1, and we are always ready to provide more vaccines as per the requirement,” added the Health Minister.
Moreover, he informed that although the government had vaccinesin stock for children below 18 years of age, the vaccination campaign had slowed down due to the lack of diluents and syringes across the world.

No issue in booster dose
Minister Khatiwada further added that booster doses would be made available to those who have completed six months after receiving full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
He clarified that the administration of booster dose was delayed by a few days owing to inadequate technical preparation in vaccination centres and said that there was no issue in providing booster dose to the public.
He also said that the government was providing booster doses to the frontline workers, people suffering from chronic disease and senior citizens.

Team to resolve dispute in BPKIHS
Meanwhile, the government has decided to send a five-member new team to ensure the operation of regular activities in the Dharan-Based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences by completely preventing the office-bearers including the vice-chancellor from carrying out their duties.

Minister Khatiwada, who reached Inaruwa on Monday, made the decision to prevent the office-bearers from performing their duties.
“A five-member team led by chief specialist of the MoHP Dr. Shyam Sundar Yadav has been sent to resolve the ongoing dispute in the institute,” informed Khatiwada, adding that economic and administrative rights were provided to the team.