Covishield, Covaxin price cut to Rs 225 per dose for private hospitals

The prices of Covishield and Covaxin booster shots have been slashed by more than half. Both the vaccine doses will now cost Rs 225. Covishield was earlier priced at Rs 600 while Covaxin booster was priced at Rs 1,200.

The price cuts were announced by Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla and Bharat Biotech co-founder Suchitra Ella on Twitter today after deliberations with the Centre. Booster doses will be available for all from tomorrow at private hospitals.



Poonawalla welcomed the government's move to allow precaution dose of the vaccine to all aged above 18 years at private vaccination centres, saying it will further provide long-term protection against the virus, and aid ease of travel.



The Health Ministry had announced that those above the age of 18 years who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose will be eligible for the precaution dose. Reacting to the government's decision in a tweet, Poonawalla said, "We are delighted by GOI's announcement on booster. The decision will further provide long term protection and aid ease of travel."

He, however, said the nine-month gap was a bit long although the company had 200 million dosages in stock. SII has the capacity to produce 4 billion dosages.

SII and Bharat Biotech have been major suppliers of COVID-19 vaccines to the government so far. According to the health ministry, so far, about 96 per cent of all those above the age of 15 years in India have received at least one vaccine dose, while about 83 per cent have received both doses.
More than 2.4 crore precaution doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged above 60 years. Besides, 45 per cent of beneficiaries in the 12-14 years age group have received the first dose, the ministry said.
The ongoing free COVID-19 inoculation programme through government vaccination centres for the first and the second dose to the eligible population as well as the precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years will be accelerated, the ministry stated.