New Delhi: A day before the rollout of precaution doses for the population aged between 18 and 59 years, the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers have slashed the price of jabs by more than half.
Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech announced on Saturday that they will provide Covishield and Covaxin to private hospitals at Rs 225 per dose. While Covishield till now costed Rs 600, a dose of Covaxin was priced at Rs 1,200.
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla and Bharat Biotech’s Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella made the announcement on Twitter today stating that the decision was taken after discussions with the Centre.
“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+,” Poonawalla posted on Twitter.
“Announcing Covaxin Pricing. We welcome the decision to make available precautionary dose for all adults. In consultation with the Central Government, we have decided to revise the price of COVAXIN from Rs 1200 to Rs 225 per dose, for private hospitals,” Ella announced on Twitter.
Earlier in the day, the Centre announced that the private hospitals can charge up to Rs 150 over the cost of vaccines as a service charge for vaccination.
After adding the service charge and 5 per cent VAT levied on the vaccines, a dose of both Covishield and Covaxin is likely to cost less than Rs 390 to a beneficiary.
The Union Government announced yesterday that the precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be available for populations above 18 years of age from April 10 only at Private Covid Vaccination Centres.Â
