KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population, Birodh Khatiwada, has said that people eligible for vaccines against COVID-19 should not stay in the queue and wait for their turn.
During the joint monitoring of Pfizer vaccination campaign at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, carried out by Minister Khatiwada and the United States Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, today, the Health Minister shared that people can visit vaccination center inconvenient place and get the vaccine as there is no shortage of vaccine against COVID-19.
Minister Khatiwada added, “Now, people would easily get the vaccine at the vaccination centers anytime. They do not have to wait for when, where, and on what day to be vaccinated.”\
An arrangement has been made to provide vaccines to general people round the clock at Bir Hospital, Teaching Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Army Hospital, and Nepal Police Hospital, he mentioned.
He further said that arrangement is going to be made in order to administer vaccines to people at any time in the other districts within a few days.
“We have started administrating Pfizer vaccine to chronic patients in the first phase in order to train human resources about the impact of this vaccine,” shared the Minister.
According to the Minister, people in the 12-18 age group will be given the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 after a month. The government is preparing to procure six million doses of Pfizer vaccine and the preparations have neared the final phase.
He pledged to reach with hundred percent population with the COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, health professionals who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic as front liners would be given risk allowance, he added.
“We have demanded a budget for the same from the Ministry of Finance. We are committed to fighting against COVID-19 effectively and efficiently,” the Health Minister said, promising to make the government’s health insurance scheme accessible to all.
US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu said the US Government was with Nepal in the fight against COVID-19 since the beginning. He vowed to provide an additional quantity of vaccines to Nepal under COVAX-facility. On the occasion, he observed the vaccination at the hospital.
Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel and US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry were among those present on the occasion. The inoculation of the first dose of Pfizer vaccine is taken from 24 hospitals since November 14 and it will conclude on November 20.
Earlier, the US Government provided 100,620 doses of vaccines under the COVAX.
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