From May 1st, Covid Vaccine At ‘Painful Price’

From May 1st, everyone aged above 18 years is eligible to take Covid-19 vaccine. However, the Centre did not impose any price cap on the vaccine and left the decision to the companies i.e, Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech that are manufacturing the vaccine. There was a huge outrage on the Centre for not deciding on the price of the vaccine and the Congress party demanded for ‘One Nation… One Price.’

Taking the initiative, Serum Institute has announced the prices of vaccine. In a media statement, SII stated that fifty percent of their capacities will be serving the government of India’s vaccination drive while the rest fifty percent will be supplied to state governments and private hospitals.

Coming down to the price, SII’s Covishield vaccine will be available for Rs 400 at government run hospitals while private hospitals will be charged Rs 600. These prices are for a single dose and we should take a note that Covid vaccine has two doses which means the cost would double.

In the same statement, SII added that their vaccine prices are comparatively lower than the global vaccines such has Pfizer (USA), Sputnik-V (Russia) and the Chinese which are priced at Rs 1500+, Rs 750+ and Rs 750+ respectively.

Concluding Serum Institute added that the situation is critical in the country and only after four to five months, the vaccine will be made available in retail and free trade.