Link to article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/nepal-worried-about-future-supply-of-covid-19-vaccines/articleshow/81275391.cms
Nepal’s authorities are concerned about obtaining enough Covid-19 vaccines to give to its 3.7 million elderly starting next weekend. They had originally received 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine as a gift from the Indian government in January and was able to purchase another 2 million doses directly from AstraZeneca. However, the worldwide demand for the vaccines from only a few companies is making it harder for smaller countries, like Nepal, to obtain the vaccine. China has gifted Nepal 500,000 does of their vaccine, but Nepal is not certain if they will purchase additional doses. Russia has offered 25 million doses of the Sputnik vaccine, but Nepal wants to review more data about the vaccine before obtaining it. Nepal has also qualified for 2.25 million doses of covid-19 vaccines from the World Health Organization and will receive and estimated 300,000 doses later this month. Nepal’s government has set a goal to inoculate all adults in Nepal by September which is a hefty goal in a country with a population of almost 30 million and no clear way to obtain the vaccinations needed. Nepal has had 274,216 Covid-19 cases with 2,777 deaths.
It is concerning that a country, like Nepal, where people live so densely is having a difficult time obtaining enough vaccines for their population. Nepal does not have a good water supply and sanitation. They also have a high number of immigrants and refugees. This along with a high sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of the spread of Covid-19 in the population. WHO needs to do better increasing their available vaccines to countries like Nepal to help stop the spread in areas of the world who need the help the most. Large companies are turning their backs on these small countries who need the vaccinations just as much, maybe more so, than larger superpowers.
The struggle for the answer to who deserves the vaccination continues. You see larger, more powerful countries being able to produce large quantities of Covid-19 vaccinations to cover their populations while struggling countries continue to struggle and are offered subpar vaccines. WHO needs to help these struggling countries find vaccines and help get people vaccinated. Countries like China and Russia need to do more testing on their vaccines to show effectiveness so that countries, like Nepal will trust their vaccinations and use them to help stop the spread of Covid-19. We need to work together as one world to stop the spread of Covid-19 so that we can continue to function as a society.