China to provide an additional two million Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal

 China is providing additional two million doses of Covid-19 vaccines -- Vero Cell vaccines manufactured in China -- to Nepal under grant assistance.

During a telephonic conversation with foreign minister Narayan Khadka, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi announced to provide an additional vaccine, according to a press note from the Foreign Ministry.

The two foreign ministers -- during an hour-long telephone conversation -- discussed entire gamut of the bilateral relations between the two countries, including vaccine cooperation, trade and commerce, development cooperation and border management, the press note reads, adding that the two foreign ministers also talked about progress of different development projects, return of Nepali students to China for continuation of their studies, increasing the number of containers of fertilisers and other goods and their shipment through Tatopani-Zhangmu and Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border ports and resumption of regular air services between Nepal and China. "The two leaders agreed to work closely on issues of common interest and to further promote friendly and long-standing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries."

China is the largest provider of vaccines to Nepal, both under grant and commercial deals.

The state councilor and foreign minister Yi also extended an invitation to foreign minister Dr Khadka to visit China at a mutually convenient date.

More Vero Cell doses arrive from China

A consignment of 4.4 million doses of the Vero Cell vaccine arrived in Kathmandu today afternoon.

Chief of the National Immunisation Programme Dr Sagar Dahal confirmed the arrival of more vaccines today. "With the latest consignment, Nepal has now received all six million doses the government had earlier purchased from China in August," he informed.

"The vaccines will be administered to everyone over the age of 18 in 10 hilly districts," he said, adding that the government plans to inoculate all eligible candidates in the hilly districts at the same time since transporting the vaccines time and again is a challenge due to geographical remoteness.

The government has also instructed to provide vaccines to those above 18 years of age in Manang, Mustang and East Rukum.

Nepal has purchased a total of 10 million doses of the Vero Cell or BBIBP-CorV vaccine developed by the Chinese state-affiliated pharmaceutical giant, Sinopharm.

Four million doses of the vaccine were purchased in June under a non-disclosure agreement and a new deal was reached to purchase additional six million doses in August.

China has also provided 1.8 million doses of the Vero Cell vaccine under grant assistance and pledged to provide an additional 1.6 million doses.

Nepal has so far received a total of 17,757,590 doses of vaccines.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, some 55,07,380 people across Nepal have been fully vaccinated, as of Friday. Similarly, 60,83,124 have received their first dose of vaccine against Covid-19.