Stating that Nepal has a stock of 20 million doses of anti-COVID vaccines, Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has asked all who’ve received their second dose of vaccine to get the third dose as well.

Addressing an event organized by CPN (Unified Socialist) at

Roshi Rural Municipality of Kavrepalanchowk district on Saturday, the Health Minister urged citizens to go for a booster shot. Minister Khatiwada said that the third dose of vaccine was necessary as the risk of the third wave of coronavirus infection was increasing in Nepal.

“The risk of the third wave of coronavirus has increased, hence we need to maintain health

protocol and receive booster shots,” Minister Khatiwada urged.

Stating that the nation-wide inoculation drive is currently being executed through 6,000 vaccination centers, Minister Khatiwada informed that such centers would be increased to 19,000 from December 16.

“I request all to visit nearby health centers or vaccination centers as we have sufficient stock of anti-COVID jabs.”

Nepal received 188,400 doses of Moderna vaccine through the COVAX facility on Friday. Though the Health Ministry said that the priority group for Moderna vaccine has not been decided yet, officials say the vaccine will most likely be administered to children between 12 and 17 years.

Similarly, around 600,000 doses of the India-made Covishield vaccine will arrive in Nepal on December 8 under the COVAX facility.

Nepal so far has received 25,049,840 of vaccines—Vero Cell, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The country has administered 1,89,92,904 shots as of Saturday.