The Department of Drug Administration has granted permission for the emergency use of the ‘Covishield’ vaccine in Nepal on Friday.

The vaccine will be registered and imported by Hukum Distributors and Logistics Company.

On Wednesday, the Department had issued a notice asking drugs manufacturers and importers to apply for a registration permit for the import of vaccines against COVID-19.

Authorized importers who are registered with the Department or intend to import after registration were informed to submit the application along with the required documents on behalf of the concerned producer and submit the application for registration of emergency use.

While registering for the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine, the department has given permission on the basis of the Code of Emergency Use of Drugs or Vaccines approved by the Government of Nepal, 2077 and the concept paper on procurement and use of vaccine against COVID-19.

According to Santosh KC, information officer of the Department, three importers had applied to import this vaccine. “Two of the applicants didn’t have all the required documents. They have been asked to complete the process,” KC said.

Currently, Nepal is preparing for third phase trial of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Australia and Vaccine PTY Limited, Australia.

The Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) has given ‘ethical approval’ for research on vaccines produced by Clover Biopharmaceuticals Australia, a sister company of Chinese company – Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals.

Similarly, process have also moved forward for the clinical trial of the ‘Covax-19’ vaccine produced by VacZine.

Emergency use of the vaccine, which is claimed to have successful results in the third phase of trial, has already started in various countries of the world. India is also preparing to vaccinate its people against COVID-19 from January 16.