Nepal to administer booster shots to frontline workers starting Sunday amid COVID-19 surge

ANI
15 Jan 2022, 12:25 GMT+10

Kathmandu [Nepal], January 15 (ANI): Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population has decided to administer booster shots to all frontline workers starting from Sunday in the Himalayan nation, local media reported.

According to The Kathmandu Post, frontline workers include doctors, nurses, paramedics, lab technicians, hospital staff and ambulance drivers.

Booster shots, according to the government, will also be given to journalists, bureaucrats, lawmakers, those serving in diplomatic missions, financial institutions, prisoners, elderly people at old age homes and refugees who were vaccinated in the first phase of the immunization campaign starting January 27.

"All those who were inoculated in the first phase of the vaccination drive come under frontline workers," The Kathmandu Post quoted Dr Samir Kumar Adhkari, joint spokesperson for the Health Ministry, as saying.

"They can receive booster shots from any convenient vaccination center starting tomorrow," Adhkari added.

The ministry has also decided to administer booster doses to all people above 60 years, who were inoculated six months ago, and to those having compromised immunity from January 28, said the newspaper.

The ministry also said that the original vaccine will be provided as booster shots.

Amid the rise in coronavirus cases, calls from several quarters had been growing for launching booster shots. However, the government had said it would start boosters once 40 percent of the total population was jabbed.

Despite having enough vaccines in stock, the vaccination campaign has remained woefully slow, The Kathmandu Post reported.

As of Friday, 11,869,974 people, or 39.1 percent of over 30 million population, were fully vaccinated in Nepal. Coronavirus cases have been rising lately with Nepal on Friday reporting 5,087 new infections. (ANI)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Malaysia Sun.

More Information

null in null

Southeast Asia

Section

Trump signals progress on India Trade, criticizes Japan stance

WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...

UN Demands End to Myanmar Violence as Junta’s Election Plans Risk Further Instability

Nearly three months after a devastating earthquake struck Myanmar, the country remains trapped in a deepening crisis, compounded by...

(SP)MYANMAR-YANGON-FOOTBALL-AFC WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS-MYANMAR VS BAHRAIN

(250706) -- YANGON, July 6, 2025 (Xinhua) -- San Thaw Thaw (C) of Myanmar vies for the ball during the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers...

(SP)INDONESIA-TANGERANG-FOOTBALL-AFC WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS-GROUP D-CHINESE TAIPEI VS INDONESIA

(250706) -- TANGERANG, July 6, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chen Jin Wen (Top) of Chinese Taipei vies with goalkeeper of Indonesia Iris Joska De...

Recovery after Myanmar's devastating earthquake will be long, sustained int'l support needed: IFRC official

Head of the IFRC delegation in Myanmar highlighted the urgent need for sustained support, especially as families work to rebuild amid...

UAE highlights potential of deeper trade, investment collaboration between BRICS nations

Rio de Janeiro [Brazil] July 6 (ANI/WAM): The United Arab Emirates, represented by Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign...

Business

Section