China's Covid-19 vaccine Vero Cell to be administered to 500,000 people in Nepal

As world currently witnesses second deadliest wave of Covid-19 wave since pandemic outbreak last year, Nepal recently anunced that second phase of its coronavirus vaccination drive will begin from Wednesday, using China-made Vero Cell vaccine— manufactured by Beijing Institute of Biological Products in February this year. Nepal has granted emergency approval to Chinese Vero Cell vaccine, given active caseload that stands at 277,944 on Monday, while 273,240 people have recovered in Nepal.
 
On Sunday, Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population made anuncement where it hinted that at least 400,000 people will be initially vaccinated using Chinese drug for Covid-19.  A spokesperson for Ministry of Health, Dr. Jshwor Gautam was quoted by ANI as saying "As many as, 500,000 of total 900,000 people targetted for vaccination have already received Covid vaccines. se 800,000 doses of China-donated vaccines will be administered to remaining 400,000 people of targetted group," he detailed in a press briefing.

'Students studying under scholarship schemes will also get vaccines'

He furr said that students pursuing ir education in China under scholarship schemes and preparing to go for furr studies would also be administered vaccine made by Sipharm. HouYanqu, Chinese ambassador to Nepal handed over Covid-19 vaccines to Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi at a special event organised at TIA on March 29.

Major nations hesitant over approval of Chinese vaccines!

Meanwhile, Chinese vaccines are still a subject of concern to many nations including India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Senior medical experts in Sri Lanka warned that " Chinese vaccine Sipharm, which was being given by Beijing should t be used on Sri Lankan nationals." Moreover, Vietnam has also been hesitant in accepting vaccines from China, even as it recently began its iculation drive. Vietnam has opted for drug against Covid-19, which is developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.