It is wrong to involve the ministry in vaccine procurement: Ministry of Health

KATHMANDU: FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 – The Ministry of Health and Population has stated that it is wrong to involve the Ministry of Health and Population in the procurement of Covishield vaccine as it will be decided by the Department of Health Services.

The ministry issued a statement on Friday claiming that the news published involving the ministry in the vaccine procurement case was not true.

The ministry said that 2 million doses of Covishield vaccine permitted for emergency use had been procured for $4 per vaccine and 1 million doses had been received and the rest could not come due to the current situation in India and obstruction in the expansion of fire resistance in the manufacturing company.

The Serum Institute of India, which had earlier sold the Covishield vaccine, has given priority to Nepal, the statement said, “The company has stated that it will supply as soon as the capacity is expanded due to fire and obstruction in capacity expansion. It is not possible to procure additional 5 million Covishield vaccines at present.”

The ministry has also stated that efforts are being made through diplomatic and other means to procure vaccines from other companies.