KATHMANDU: One million doses of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Indian government are arriving in Nepal on Thursday.

The coronavirus vaccine Covishield is being brought via a flight of Air India at 10:45 am, a source at the Health Ministry said.

This is the first time the Indian government is providing Nepal COVID-19 vaccine.

The Nepal government is preparing to launch COVID-19 vaccination in all the 77 districts simultaneously.

The names of COVID-19 vaccine receivers are being collected online, said Health Secretary Laxman Aryal. The vaccination will begin before February 12, according to Aryal.

Talking to Khabarhub, Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi said the donation of COVID-19 vaccine by India is an exemplary age-old ties between Nepal and India and vowed that the COVID-19 vaccine procurement process will be carried out in a transparent manner.