All citizens should be vaccinated against COVID -19 until the coming election: NA Chair

KATHMANDU: MARCH. 2 – National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina has said that all the citizens should be administered the full-dose vaccine against COVID-19 until the upcoming election.

He stressed that the political parties should also bring forward the vaccination topic with priority.

The Chairperson of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament said so while addressing a programme of interaction on ‘communication risk related to vaccines against COVID-19 and community participation’ organized jointly by the Ministry of Health and Population and the World Health Organization (WHO) here today.

Chair Timilsina called for keeping in priority the task of declaring Nepal as fully-vaccinated until the election. “All can become safe from COVID-19 infection if all the people are vaccinated. This will also benefit the political parties. So, let us go to the people with a message of full vaccination and becoming more active,” he said.

He said Nepal has made progress in the prevention and control of COVID-19 in spite of limited means and resources.

Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada said that children between five to 11 years of age would be vaccinated starting from next month. He said a letter has already been sent for purchasing the vaccine for this purpose.

Minister Khatiwada added that all people above 12 years of age would be administered the COVID vaccine within mid-May this year.

According to him, the experience gained in course of the fight against the coronavirus so far has indicated that the pandemic will not do much damage now. He said the fight against COVID-19 infection has become easier with whatever experience we have gained in that connection so far.

Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokharel said prevention and control of COVID-19 are possible with the support of all sides.

WHO Nepal’s chief Dr Rajesh Pandav said COVID-19 has taught mankind a lot of life-changing lessons. He stressed the need for preparedness along with an emergency response plan for the prevention and control of pandemics like COVID-19.

Dr Pandav said scientists have been successful to develop the vaccine against COVID-19 in the shortest time so far. He observed that COVID-19 has taught mankind to reunite with family, take care of the family and face physical, mental and economic problems at the same time.

Discussions were held in the programme with the National Assembly members on the science behind the public health standards in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the strategy of the Ministry of Health regarding vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and the post-COVID health issues and their management, among other topics.

The Ministry and WHO had shared information on COVID-19 and its impact on the members of the state assemblies of Karnali and the Sudurpaschim states before this.