Kathmandu, March 29
Nepal has received 800,000 doses of Vero Cell Covid-19 vaccines being donated by the Chinese government on Monday morning.
Nepal had sent its national flag carrier’s wide-body aircraft to Beijing on Sunday to receive the vaccines. Earlier reports had said the vaccines were waiting to be supplied as both Nepal and China governments had different opinions over how should the supply be made.
On behalf of the Chinese government, Ambassador Hou Yanqi handed over the vaccines to Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi at the Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.
The government of Nepal has already approved the use of Vero Cell for emergency use.
Officials claim Vero Cell is more effective than the India-made Covidshied that Nepal has been using so far. However, in the case of purchase, it costs a bit expensive, it has been learned.
Like Covishield, this vaccine also requires two doses to make the course complete.
Following the arrival of the new vaccine, Nepal is expected to resume the vaccination that has been halted owing to the delay in supplies from India’s Serum Institute.
