Kathmandu: Minister of Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, emphasized Nepal’s significant progress in immunization at the Special Health Ministers and Implementing Country Caucus Meeting. He expressed gratitude to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for its pivotal role in supporting Nepal’s immunization efforts, noting that since 2001, Gavi has provided approximately US$449.1 million in financial support for vaccines and related programs.
Minister Paudel outlined key milestones in Nepal’s National Immunization Program, which serves over 500,000 children annually. Nepal has achieved polio-free status since 2010, eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus since 2005, and became one of the first countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region to control rubella and hepatitis B. The country also launched an extensive campaign to vaccinate 1.4 million children in 2024 in response to global vaccine shortages.
Looking ahead, Minister Paudel highlighted the upcoming introduction of the HPV vaccine in 2025 as part of Nepal’s commitment to cervical cancer elimination. He also mentioned plans to introduce new vaccines, including Hexavalent, Hepatitis B birth dose, and Cholera, in collaboration with Gavi.
Despite these successes, Nepal faces challenges, including a reduced health budget and human resource constraints due to the country’s new federal structure. Minister Paudel called on Gavi for continued support, including Health System Strengthening funding, Equity Accelerator Funding, and investments in vaccine market shaping to ensure the sustainability of vaccine access.
In closing, Minister Paudel reiterated Nepal’s commitment to global health goals, including the SDGs and the Immunization Agenda 2030, and stressed the importance of ongoing collaboration to ensure equitable immunization coverage for all children.