KATHMANDU, JULY 21

Authorities have decided to inoculate people aged 18 years and above with the Johnson & Johnson single-shot Covid-19 vaccine, in Kathmandu, from Wednesday.

The government had earlier announced that the single-shot vaccine would be given to people falling in the 50-54 age group that were yet to receive their first dose. Likewise, it was decided that the jab would be administered to persons with disabilities, refugees in Nepal, and health workers and sanitation staffers who had missed taking their shots during the previous drives.

However, concerned officials have now decided to include all people aged 18 years and above in the target group as a large stock of the vaccine was still available even after two days of inoculation drive.

The US government had donated 1.5 million doses of J&J single-dose vaccine to Nepal under the COVAX facility.