KATHMANDU, July 22 -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday approved a loan of US $165 million to Nepal to purchase safe and effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ADB's fund will support the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan in Nepal by procuring an estimated 15.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which will benefit about 6.8 million Nepalis.

"ADB's support will help the Government of Nepal procure much-needed COVID-19 vaccines to protect its citizens from the further spread of this disease," said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. "It is essential that COVID-19 vaccines are quickly purchased and administered to help get the economy back on track by enabling the restoration of livelihoods and economic activ...