The Serum Institute of India has reduced the cost of Covishield for states from Rs 400 to Rs 300 per dose. Calling it a philantrophic gesture, the CEO of Serum Institute, Adar Poonawalla tweeted that he is reducing the price to the states, effective immediately.
The decision of reducing the price of Covishield will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives, Poonawalla wrote in his tweet.
Last week, Poonawalla had fixed the price of Covishield vaccine at Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals and Rs 400 per jab for state governments. The vaccines were still more affordable than foriegn vaccines, which cost from Rs 750 to RS 1,500 a shot, Poonawalla had said in a statement.
The Government has decided to open up Covid-19 vaccination for all above the age of 18 from May 1 in view of a gigantic increase in the incidence of fresh infections in the second wave, with reports of various new strains including an Indian double-mutant.
As part of the government’s new policy, the Serum Institute will serve 50 per cent of vaccine doses for the government of India and the rest 50 per cent will be divided between states and private hospitals.
The higher prices of vaccines for states and private hospitals have provoked anger and debate since Serum made the announcement weeks ago.
In a record single-day spike, a total of 3,60,960 people tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, taking the total Covid tally of India to 1,79,97,267. The death toll has crossed two lakh following 3,293 fresh fatalities, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The death toll stands at 2,01,187, it said.