KATHMANDU, Jan 15: Nepal has granted a conditional emergency approval for Covishield, the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc and the University of Oxford, and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the first step in its plan to inoculate citizens in the country.

A decision to grant the emergency approval for Covishield was taken on Friday itself, according to a press statement issued by the Department of Drug Administration this afternoon.

"Conditional permission has been granted for emergency use authorization of Covishield vaccine against COVID-19 in Nepal," reads the statement issued by the department.

In a notice on Wednesday, the department asked manufacturers or importers to get approval for registration in order to bring vaccines against COVID-19 in Nepal.

As of today, three importers have filed applications for the same, officials at the department stated.  

Neighboring India has already made conditional emergency approval for Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute.

Nepal has recorded 266,816 cases of coronavirus as of today. 

 
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