Kathmandu, Feb. 25 -- So far, 450,000 Nepalis have received the first dose of Covishield, reaching 85% of the target group in thefirst phase of the country's Covid vaccination drive.

Starting 7 March, 3.7 million Nepalis above 55 who make up 12% of the total population will get their shots against SARS-CoV-2. Teachers, students, bus drivers and other groups will also be included in the second phase.

On the paper, Nepal looks like it is in abetter position with vaccination, especially given that more than 100 countrieshave yet to receiveeven a single dose.

"We have to applaud the government for its effort in bringing the vaccine earlier than expected and for rolling it out efficiently," says Sameer Mani Dixit of the Centre for Molecular...