KATHMANDU – Nepal is the second country globally to have completed agreements with GAVI to procure 4 million doses of Moderna vaccines, financed by the World Bank, through the COVAX cost-share option. This will diversify and strengthen the country’s COVID-19 vaccine portfolio.
“Nepal is an early mover in utilizing the COVAX
cost-share scheme, and I am pleased to note that we have finalized an
arrangement, despite very challenging circumstances, to bring safe and highly
effective vaccines to Nepal,” said Umesh Shrestha, Minister of State for Health
and Population. “Moderna vaccines have
helped expand options for vaccinating Nepalis above 12 years of age and fast-track
Nepal’s progress towards a safer post-COVID world.”
Delivery
of these vaccines is expected to start by March 2022 and will contribute to
Nepal’s goal to vaccinate at least 72 percent of its population, as well as
children 12-17 years of age for whom the Moderna vaccine is deemed safe and
effective.
“We are honored to support the people and Government of Nepal, along with our development partners, by financing the purchase of safe and effective vaccines
through the COVAX facility,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank
Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “This is a key element of our overall COVID
response by helping to meet emergency
health needs and strengthening the healthcare and vaccine delivery
system.”
The
World Bank has made available $104 million to support the Government of Nepal’s
health response to the pandemic, with $67.5 million earmarked to purchase and
deploy COVID-19 vaccines. Last month, 1,000 oxygen concentrators were brought
in through the project while seven oxygen generation plants are being
established, one in each province. These will help strengthen health
preparedness in the event of future waves of the pandemic.
“We commend the Government of Nepal for being the
first country in South Asia, and one of the first in the world, to join and tap
into the COVAX cost-share option,” said Hartwig Schafer, World Bank
Vice President for South Asia. “The
World Bank is committed to continuing our support to Nepal’s COVID-19 vaccination
program, which is critical to helping the people and economy of Nepal build
back better from this unprecedented crisis.”
The
World Bank supports countries’ COVID-19 vaccine
implementation plans. Countries make choices based on their specific needs and
the WHO’s recommended policy and guidelines on vaccines, therapeutics, and
other tools they adopt. As
the threshold for eligibility for IBRD/IDA resources in vaccine purchase, the
Bank accepts as eligible for inclusion in
the project COVID-19 vaccines that (i) have received regular or emergency
licensure or authorization from at least one of the Stringent Regulatory
Authorities (SRAs) identified by World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines
procured and/or supplied under the COVAX Facility, as may be amended from time
to time by WHO; or (ii) have received WHO Prequalification or WHO Emergency Use
Listing.
The Moderna vaccine meets these criteria.
World Bank Group Response to COVID-19