Nepal receives J&J doses from US

Kathmandu, July 12

Nepal on Monday received more than 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the US at the time when the country is facing a severe shortage of the jabs.

This is the first consignment of the single-shot vaccine Nepal has received. The US provided 1,534,850 doses to Nepal through the COVAX scheme, the global Covid vaccine equity plan.

US Ambassador Randy Berry handed over the vaccines to Health Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha on Monday.

“Today we’re giving Nepal enough #JNJ COVID19 vaccines via #COVAX to fully vaccinate 1.5 million people,” Berry wrote on Twitter after handing over the consignment to Nepal.

“I’m proud that the US is the largest single-country donor of #COVID19 assistance to Nepal. This gift, on behalf of the American people, has the singular goal of saving lives,” Berry added.

Health Minister Shrestha said on Monday that the American vaccine would be given to people aged 50 to 54.

The arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will complement Nepal’s vaccination drive amid the second Covid wave, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. — PTI