Gender Equality Update no. 25 - Ensuring equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nepal (March 2, 2021) Format On February 6, 2021, the Government of Nepal completed the first target of its COVID-19 vaccination drive. More than 429,000 (including Female Health Community Volunteers) persons received the first dose of the vaccine. The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has received 1 million doses from the government of India and procured additional 2 million doses (1 million has already been received and 1 million is coming soon). Further, MoHP is now waiting for 1.9 million doses vaccines to arrive through the COVAX Facility, which is the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator, convened by CEPI, GAVI, World Health Organisation and UNICEF. As the vaccination rolls out, interventions aimed at responding to the emerging needs of women and excluded groups are vital. These efforts will help ensure the vaccine is distributed in an equitable manner across the government’s priority groups.