New Delhi: Centre government after talks with Covid vaccine manufacturers Serum and Bharat Biotech, cut prices to Rs.225 per dose a day before the Covid vaccine booster drive begins for the private hospitals. Prices of Covishield have been slashed from ₹ 600, and Covaxin is reduced from Rs.1,200 per dose. CEO of Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, and Bharat Biotech cofounder Suchitra Ella announced the latest prices on Twitter.
Poonawala said, SII has decided to reduce the price of the Covishield vaccine for private hospitals from Rs.600 to Rs. 225 per dose after the discussions with the Centre. He also applauded the opening up of precautionary doses to all adults.
We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the Central Government, SII has decided to revise the price of COVISHIELD vaccine for private hospitals from Rs.600 to Rs 225 per dose. We once again commend this decision from the Centre to open precautionary dose to all 18+.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) April 9, 2022
Ms Ella of Bharat Biotech tweeted the decision to make available booster dose for all above 18 years. In consultation with the Union Government, we have decided to reduce the price of the Covaxin vaccine from Rs.1200 to Rs.225 per dose, for private hospitals.
Read More: Covishield vaccine prices slashed for private hospitals
Modi government has opened the booster dose drive for those above the age of 18 years who have completed 9 months after the second dose will now be eligible for this precautionary dose.
Mr. Poonawala had yesterday welcomed the Centre’s move as crucial and timely since several countries have made a third dose mandatory for travel amid the rising fourth wave of Covid pandemic across the globe.
Till now around 96 percent of the population above 15 years have received at least one Covid vaccine dose while about 83 percent of people in the country have received both doses. As per the Union Health Ministry, more than 2.4 crore people have taken the precautionary covid vaccine.
Read More: Covaxin prices cut to Rs 225 before booster drive begins