The Serum Institute of India (SII) on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, reduced in the price of Covishield vaccine by INR 100, with an aim to help people in India. As per the revised guidelines, the price of one dose of Covishield will now cost INR 300 for the state government, which was earlier decided to be INR 400.
Announcing the same, Adar Poonawala, CEO of SII took to Twitter and said, "As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of @SerumInstIndia, I hereby reduce the price to the states from Rs.400 to Rs.300 per dose, effective immediately; this will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives."
As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of @SerumInstIndia, I hereby reduce the price to the states from Rs.400 to Rs.300 per dose, effective immediately; this will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) April 28, 2021
However, SII has reduced the price of a single dose of Covishield for the state government only. Private hospitals will still have to pay INR 600 for the vaccine.
The decision was taken after the Center had appealed to reduce the price of the vaccine with both SII and Bharat Biotech. The announcement regarding the same was made a few days back by the government official, in an interaction with PTI. The message posted on Twitter, on April 26, 2021, read, "Govt asks Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech to lower price of COVID vaccines as India gears up to inoculate all aged above 18: Official sources."
Govt asks Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech to lower price of COVID vaccines as India gears up to inoculate all aged above 18: Official sources
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2021
The third phase of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination drive is expected to begin on May 1, 2021, whereby citizens above the age of 18 can get vaccinated. However, from this phase, the state government will have to purchase the vaccines directly from the pharmaceutical companies. Keeping the same in mind, both SII and Bharat Biotech had revised the pricing for both the available vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin.
However, this was not taken well by the state governments and questions were raised regarding the difference in the pricing. To emphasise the same, help from sought from the central government with an aim to get the prices reduced for the state governments.
Moreover, to encourage citizens from getting vaccinated, several state governments have announced free vaccination for citizens at the government-run hospitals.
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