US announces to provide vaccines to 16 Asian countries including Nepal

KATHMANDU: The United States has announced that it will provide vaccines against COVID-19 to 16 Asian countries, including Nepal.

A statement from the White House stated that “About 7 million doses of vaccine will be given to 16 Asian countries, including Nepal.”

The date on which Nepal will receive the vaccine is still unknown. The White House letter states that India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and the Pacific Islands will receive the vaccine.

The amount of vaccine that Nepal will receive will be decided soon. Last week, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari wrote a letter to her US counterpart Joe Biden requesting special vaccination initiatives.

The United States plans to provide 80 million doses of the vaccine by next June, with a list of countries receiving 25 million doses in the first phase.

The United States plans to provide 80 million doses of the vaccine by next June, with a list of countries receiving 25 million doses in the first phase.

According to the US Vaccine Distribution Blueprint, 75 per cent of vaccines will be delivered through the Covax plant.

The United States has said it will distribute 7 million doses to 16 Asian countries, including Nepal and India, 6 million doses to South and Central American countries and 5 million doses to African countries.

The United States is in the process of distributing AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines in stock.