For the next phase of the nationwide vaccination drive beginning from 1st May, the Serum Institute of India has announced the prices of its COVID-19 vaccine COVISHIELD for State governments and private hospitals. For the state government, the price has been kept at Rs 400 per dose. On the other hand, the price for the private hospitals has been kept at Rs 600 per dose. The company’s declaration comes after the government of India’s directive that talks about the opening up of the immunization program. The directive allows 50 per cent of the vaccines to be supplied to state governments and private hospitals.
The order by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had informed that vaccine manufacturers would transparently make an advance declaration of the price for 50 per cent supply that would be available to state governments and in open market, before 1st May 2021.
Today, Serum Institute of India released a statement in which it announced providing its vaccines to the state governments and private hospitals on the back of the broad guidelines dispensed by the government of India for the procurement of vaccines.
Apart from this, SII also informed that the prices of its COVID-19 vaccine COVISHIELD were reasonably priced as compared to the global COVID-19 vaccines like the American vaccines that go above Rs.1500 per dose. Moreover, it is also comparable with Russian vaccines and Chinese vaccines that cost upwards of Rs.750 per dose.
Moreover, SII has advised corporates and private individuals to avail the vaccines by means of the state facilitated machinery and private health system. This is due to the urgency, complexity of the situation and the challenges in supplying it self-sufficiently to everyone.
After the announcement of the price for COVISHIELD, private hospitals and state governments will set their price to be charged from people getting the vaccine based on these prices. It is noteworthy that few states like UP and Assam have already declared that they will immunize people for free. It is quite likely that private hospitals would add costs of logistics like storage, transportation and cost of consumable like syringes to arrive at the final retail price.
Indian government announced Phase 3 of the COVID-19 vaccination drive
Indian government, on April 19, made announcement of the Phase 3 Strategy of COVID-19 vaccination. According to the Indian government’s press release, every citizen of India above the age of 18 will be eligible for the vaccine administered by the state government and private vaccination providers. During the meeting presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a number of important decisions were taken pertaining to procurement, eligibility, pricing and administration of the vaccine.
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