Serum Institute of India reduces ‘Covishield’ vaccination price to the States by 25%

By Patrick Miller |

Serum Institute of India in its latest statement announced that it was decreasing the cost of its Covishield vaccine to INR 300 per dose. For the record, the vaccine was earlier available to the states at INR 400 per dose.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO, SII quoted the move as a philanthropic gesture that will help save the states thousands of crores of funds and will enhance accessibility to the vaccine saving innumerable lives.

Serum Institute of India received huge flak last week for the alleged high pricing for its vaccine. The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer responded to the criticism by citing the comparisons between global and country level pricing inaccurate.

SII in its explanation cited that the initial global pricing of the vaccine was low as it was based on advanced funding by the countries for at-risk vaccine manufacturing.

The pharmaceutical giant also maintained that the initial supply cost of Covishield has been the lowest for all government vaccination programme, including India. The firm stated that Covishield remains the most affordable vaccine against COVID-19 in the market today.

Serum Institute had earlier quoted the price for each dose of Covishield as INR 150 for the Central government, INR 400 for State governments and INR 600 for private hospitals. On the other hand, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin’s each dose was priced at INR 150 for the Central government, INR 600 for State governments and INR 1200 for private hospitals.

The paucity with regard to COVID-19 vaccine has also raised question marks on the third phase of immunization in the country scheduled to commence on May 1st. Rajesh Tope, Health Minister of Maharashtra raised his doubts regarding the feasibility of the third phase of vaccination given the scarcity of vaccines. Currently the inoculation programme in India is being conducted through vaccines produced by only two manufacturers – Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India.

As per sources familiar with the matter, SII has made a verbal promise of supplying 1 crore vaccines per month to the Maharashtra government. A written assurance in this regard is reportedly pending on behalf of SII.



Source Credits:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/serum-institute-of-india-cuts-covishield-vaccine-price-for-states-to-300-per-dose/article34431403.ece

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