Nepal set to destroy 4 million Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines, 2.5 years after buying them from China

Nepal is poised to discard four million doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine obtained from China in April 2021, as advised by the vaccine advisory committee. The committee deems the Chinese vaccine unsuitable as a booster or regular dose. Acquired during the peak of the 2021 first wave, the vaccines have lingered in central storage for over 2.5 years due to technical limitations hindering their utilization, as explained by Dr Abhiyaan Gautam, head of the vaccination branch in the Ministry of Health and Population.

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Although Nepal received two shipments of Sinovac in April 2021, the majority preferred alternatives like Moderna, Covishield, and Pfizer. Dr. Gautam stated that the advisory committee discouraged Sinovac for booster doses and it couldn't be administered as a first or second dose.

Efforts to return the vaccines to China proved futile, despite diplomatic initiatives by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Multiple attempts to sell the vaccines to other countries also failed. Dr Gautam mentioned that despite a year of tireless diplomatic efforts, China consistently refused to take back the unused vaccines, leading Nepal to opt for their disposal.

नेपाल ने चीन से खरीदने के 2.5 साल बाद 4 मिलियन सिनोवैक कोविड-19 टीकों को नष्ट करने की तैयारी कर ली है