KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 8

Nepal is all set to receive first consignment of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines on February 13.

According to Sagar Dahal, Chief of Child Health and Immunization Section, Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services, the government has been confirmed that it would get the booster doze vaccines for COVID-19 on February 13 and 16.

Earlier the government had sought vaccines from the Global Alliances for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) and was assured of the supplies.

But the date for the arrival of vaccines was not fixed. 'In first phase, Nepal will receive 1.5 million doses of Pfizer bivalent vaccines in three installments and the date for the third arrival is yet to be announced,' he said.

It may be noted that the government had urged the GAVI to ensure the supplies of three million booster dose COVID-19 vaccines under COVAX facility to Nepal in view of increasing infection of BF 7 variant of COVID-19 in close neighbours India and China.

At the moment the infection has slowed down in Nepal and till Tuesday, there were two active cases of COVID-19 across the country.