Writ seeking second dose Covid vaccine to 1.35 million senior citizens being filed at SC

KATHMANDU: A writ petition is being filed at the Supreme Court (SC) Monday seeking second dose of COVID-19 vaccines for about 1.35 million elderly citizens who have received the first dose.

Senior citizen Chiranjivi Bas Giri is preparing to file the writ, which is in process of registration, according to a SC official.

The government had given first dose of Serum Institute of India-developed COVISHEILD vaccine to people over 65 years old from March 7-16, 2021. The 1.35 million people are yet to receive the vaccine’s second dose, which out to be administered within 12 weeks after receiving the first dose.

Advocate Kirtinath Sharma Poudel, who assisted in preparing the writ petition, said senior citizens have been deprived of the second dose of vaccine, which had to be administered by May 29.

The government has been continuing efforts to procure Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from the United Kindom after the Indian company could not provide vaccine. However, the government efforts have not borne fruit till date