COVID-19 Vaccination: Nepal's status, challenges, and equity issues My Republica Nepal, June 28 -- The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is slowly receding, and hopefully, we could overcome this crisis. Our healthcare systems need to be strengthened to prepare for the future wave of COVID-19 or a similar pandemic. With the surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 was an unpredictable and tough year in the history of Nepal. As Nepal was struggling with the multisectoral effects of the pandemic and dealing with the aftermaths of the first wave, the vaccines emerged as a new hope. The Government of India declared to provide Nepal with COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in January 2021. One million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India arrived from India. It was approved for emergency use by the Department of Drug Administration on Jan 15, 2021. The immunization section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services worked promptly in developing vaccination guidelines, preparing vaccination cards, orienting districts as well as vaccinators through virtual means on supply chain management and other preparatory planning activities. And thus, the first phase of the vaccination campaign started on Jan 27, 2021, including frontline health care workers, supporting staff working at health facilities, female community health volunteers (FCHVs), ambulance drivers, dead body management teams, senior citizens at old age homes and security personnel working at Point of Entry (PoE). In later phases, COVISHIELD was introduced to government officials, elected representatives, media personnel, security personnel, and people above 65 years. The Government of Nepal procured two million doses from Serum Institute, but only 1 million doses were received. The Serum Institute declined to supply the remaining one million doses following an Indian High Court order.