KATHMANDU: Nepal has written a letter to the Indian government requesting for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate around 20 percent of the Nepali population.

Nepal will pay for the vaccines it sources through India, PTI reported.

At least two vaccine candidates including Oxford’s AstraZeneca and domestically developed candidate Bharat Biotech’s vaccine are in the final stages of a third phase trial in India.

“To get the vaccines at the earliest, the government has requested the Indian government to buy vaccines for 20 percent Nepalis,” the report said, quoting a Health Ministry official.

Nepal is also pursuing vaccines made in other countries, said the report.