After Serum Institute of India's decision announced the revised price of Covishield, Bharat Biotech, on April 29, 2021, also reduced the price of covaxin, the Indian-made coronavirus vaccine. As per the new guidelines, the cost of the vaccine has been reduced by INR 200.
A few days back, Bharat Biotech had announced that in the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive, Covaxin would be given to the central government at INR 150 per dose, INR 600 for the state governments and INR 1,200 per dose for private hospitals. However, this decision was not appreciated by the state governments and the citizens, who took to social media to express the same.
Ministers from the state also shared the details with the central government requesting support in reducing the price. Keeping the ongoing second coronavirus wave in mind, both the companies were asked by the Center to slash the prices, which would help in getting more people vaccinated in India.
Responding to the same, Bharat Biotech, on Thursday, released a statement stating that the firm has decided on reducing the price of covaxin. Officials stated that given the current challenges, the firm will now provide the vaccine to state governments at a cost of INR 400 per dose. This move is said to offer great relief to the state governments, however, private hospitals will have to pay only INR 1,200 per dose for this vaccine.
Earlier, on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, the Serum Institute of India (SII) reduced the cost of its Covishield vaccine, whereby the same will now be available to state governments at INR 300 per dose.
In this phase of the vaccination drive, both the companies have been allowed to sell 50 per cent of the total production to the state government and private hospitals. Keeping the same in mind, the state governments will now have to purchase vaccines directly from companies. However, questions were raised regarding the discrepancy in price for the central government and state government. Officials stated that the firms are giving the vaccine at a low cost for the centre but not the state, and understanding this, they demanded to reduce the cost of vaccines.
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