KATHMANDU: The government has allowed the import and use of COVID-19 vaccines brought through diplomatic missions and inter-governmental agencies in the country.

The Department of Drug Administration (DDA), issuing a press note Monday, informed that it would authorize the import and use of vaccines procured through foreign missions and inter-governmental agencies based in the country.

Confusion emerged regarding import and use of COVID-19 vaccines procured by diplomatic missions after 2,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine entered the country from Baharain last Monday.

According to Drug Act 1978, the DDA issues permit, on the recommendation of Ministry of Foreign Affair (MoFA) and Minister of Health and Population (MoHP), to diplomatic missions and international inter-governmental organizations to import and use drugs and vaccines in the country.

Baharain’s royal team had brought 2,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine when they arrived here to scale Mount Everest. However, the MoFA or MoHP was unaware of the vaccines entering the country.

The MoHP has yet to take a decision on the use of vaccines that entered the country without prior information.

Meanwhile, the vaccine brought by the Baharain mission is currently in the vaccine storage unit of Tribhuvan International Airport. The locals of Samagaun of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-1 in Gorkha are to receive the 2,000 doses of vaccine brought by the Baharain royal team.