People get booster shots in suburpaschim

Sudurpaschim Province has a small number of people who have been administered the booster shots.

Out of over 2.2 million people who have received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the province (nine districts), more than 1 million have been administered first doses of the booster shots, said Hemraj Joshi, COVID-19 contact person at the Sudurpaschim Province Health Directorate.

The number of people who have gotten the second dose of the booster shots is 29,856. A lack of awareness has made the matter worse, said Minraj Joshi, public health inspector of the Directorate. "All will get the shots when vaccines are enough," he said. The vaccination campaign is taking place in the province.

Out of the total 647,734 tests so far in the province, 61,977 have been confirmed infected with the virus, and 635 have succumbed.

Meanwhile, safety measures have been up in the province in view of the infection risks in the context of neighbouring India reporting increasing virus cases. Open cross border mobility of people has increased infection risks, said health workers. Health desks have been set up at the bordering areas, and COVID-19 tests are mandatory for incoming people, said Yogesh Prasad Bhatta, chief of the health office, Baitadi.