KATHMANDU: The government has signed a deal to purchase 4 million doses of Moderna vaccine for children and adolescents aged between 12 and 17. The vaccine will likely arrive in Nepal by March 2022.

The government signed the agreement with Gavi — The Vaccine Alliance — for purchase of vaccines though COVAX on cost-sharing basis with the financial assistance of World Bank.

With this, Nepal has also become the first South Asia nation to utilize cost-sharing options with COVAX.

Minister of State for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha said, “The Moderna vaccine would expand vaccination options to those above the age of 12.”

World Bank’s Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said the assistance was a key part of the overall COVID response.

The World Bank provided $104 million assistance to fight the coronavirus pandemic, of which $67.5 million will be spent on the purchase of vaccines.