Author: Dr. Bipindra Khaniya, Sanju Kharel, Hari Prasad Upadhyay, Shankar Laudari
Journal: Journal of National Heart & Lung Society Nepal
Publication Date: June 30, 2025
DOI:10.3126/jnhls.v4i1.7939
Currently practicing as a Senior Medical Officer, providing comprehensive internal medicine care and contributing to medical excellence in patient treatment and care.
Completed Master of Medicine (MD) specializing in Internal Medicine, gaining extensive knowledge in diagnosis, treatment, and management of adult diseases.
Worked as a Medical Officer providing primary healthcare services, emergency care, and general medical consultations to diverse patient populations.
Completed undergraduate medical education with comprehensive training in all aspects of medicine, surgery, and healthcare delivery.
Long COVID has emerged as a persistent public health challenge following the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This groundbreaking research examines the protective effects of complete COVID-19 vaccination against long COVID symptoms in the Nepalese population, providing crucial insights for public health policy and clinical practice.
This narrative literature review integrated data from multiple sources including Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, tertiary care hospitals such as Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Patan Hospital, and Koshi Zonal Hospital, along with WHO publications and international peer-reviewed studies. The study focused on Nepalese individuals who had confirmed COVID-19 infections and had completed the primary vaccination series (≥2 doses).
Long COVID was defined according to WHO guidelines as symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks without another explanation. The research assessed symptom frequency, duration, and impact on daily activities among vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.
The study revealed compelling evidence for vaccination's protective effects against long COVID:
With over 73% of Nepal's adult population having received two vaccine doses and more than 25 million doses administered nationwide, these findings have significant implications for public health policy. The study reinforces the importance of achieving high vaccine coverage not only for acute disease prevention but also for minimizing long-term health impacts.
The research identified specific challenges in Nepal's healthcare context, including inadequate long-term follow-up systems, underreporting due to lack of awareness, diagnostic limitations in rural areas, and variations in vaccine efficacy. Addressing these barriers requires a multifaceted public health response including education, surveillance, and research initiatives tailored to the Nepalese healthcare system.
This research contributes valuable evidence to the global understanding of COVID-19 vaccination benefits, particularly in resource-limited settings. The findings suggest that complete vaccination demonstrates a significant protective effect against long COVID, supporting international trends observed in studies from the UK, US, and other countries.
As Nepal transitions from pandemic response to endemic management, the integration of long COVID surveillance and care into the healthcare system becomes crucial. The study advocates for establishing long COVID surveillance systems, expanding booster dose administration, and integrating long COVID assessment into primary healthcare services.
Read the full research paper: Effect of Complete COVID-19 Vaccination on Long COVID among the Nepalese Population