Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people over 18

KATHMANDU: JULY 21 – The Johnson & Johnson vaccine against coronavirus has been administered to everyone over the age of 18 in the Kathmandu district.

Dr Taranath Pokharel, director of the family welfare branch of the health service department, said that the vaccination campaign was carried out less than expected in Kathmandu district and all the people above 18 years of age were vaccinated.

At present, 44 vaccination centres in the Kathmandu district are crowded for vaccination. He said that the vaccine can be administered by going to the vaccination centre till tomorrow.

He said the vaccine would not have any negative impact, adding that people may have been less likely to respond to negative rumours about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had launched the vaccination campaign on July 19. The vaccine was initially said to be given to everyone in the age group of 50 to 54 years.

The United States had provided 1.534 million 850 doses to Nepal under the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Covax facility on July 12.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccination is being given to people with full and severe disabilities, refugees living in Nepal, health workers and sanitation workers working in health facilities, and those who were exempted from vaccination in the previous campaign.

So far, 3,150,956 people have been vaccinated in Nepal and 1,158,130 people have been vaccinated in the second dose.