The Ministry of Health and Population in Nepal is seeking consultation from vaccine experts on the disposal of four million doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine that expired in December. These doses were a gift from China two years ago and were not utilized, as the health authorities opted for other vaccines with shorter shelf lives. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee decided against using Sinovac-CoronaVac as a booster, and the country received sufficient doses from the COVAX facility, eliminating the need for the Sinovac-CoronaVac jabs. The disposal methods being considered include using chemicals and boiling the vaccine doses, as suggested by experts from the World Health Organisation, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, and Chinese vaccine manufacturing companies.
Amid the disposal discussions, Nepal has confirmed the presence of the JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus, with seven out of 16 sequenced samples showing its detection. Although classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organisation due to its global spread, the public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low. Health Ministry officials have directed agencies to enhance surveillance measures in response to the emerging sub-variant. While cases of coronavirus infection continue to be reported in various parts of the country, public health measures such as wearing masks, handwashing, and avoiding crowds are emphasized. Despite the decline in Omicron variant infections in 2021, the nation remains vigilant, especially with the emergence of new variants globally.
