KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to immediately arrange the second dose of the Covisheild vaccine for about 1.35 million elderly citizens, who have already received the first dose.

A bench of Justice Ishwar Khatiwada passed an interim order in this regard along with a show-cause notice Tuesday. The court ruled that the second dose of vaccine to the senior citizens, who received the first dose, had been delayed.

The World Health Organization recommends administering the second dose of the Covshield vaccine within 8 to 12 weeks after the first dose is given. The government had given the first dose of Serum Institute of India-developed Covisheild vaccine to about 1.35 million people, aged over 65, from March 7-16, 2021.

Petitioners, including Arjun Raj Giri, had filed a writ petition at the apex court demanding the second dose of the vaccine.

Advocate Kirti Nath Sharma, who argued on behalf of the petitioners, said the SC issued an interim order in the name of the government to provide the vaccine immediately.

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 yet to come to fruition.