According to the Department of Health Services (DoHS), 98,000 vials of BCG vaccine and 20,000 vials of MR vaccine have arrived, and they plan to supply the vaccines to the far and mid western districts in the first phase.

DoHS Director General Sinendra Upreti said an additional 20,000 vials of MR vaccine are due to arrive next week.

The dearth of these vaccines had hindered the government effort to immunise children against life-threatening diseases.

The government administers 11 vaccines to

children. Measles and rubella vaccine is administered to children between nine and 15 months.

Rubella virus causes rubella (also known as German measles or three-day measles) which is thought to be a mild childhood illness. Pregnant women are most vulnerable to Rubella. It is estimated that 400 children are born with disabilities in Nepal due to the disease every year.

Children are inoculated with BCG vaccine against tuberculosis right after birth. The vaccine, administered

45 days after birth, is a combination of five vaccines that protects children from five

diseases, including diphtheria and hepatitis-B. Vaccines are also administered against polio and Japanese Encephalitis.