Companies Feel Betrayed Due To Capping Of COVID Vaccine Price: Biocon Chief

Bengaluru: The Union government has capped COVID-19 vaccine price at Rs 250 per dose, the break-up being Rs 150 for vaccine and Rs 100 as service charge.

There has been no reaction so far from Indian vaccine manufacturers, but Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw hit out at the government on Sunday for capping the price at Rs 250 at private hospitals.

She said vaccine companies “feel betrayed” as the amount is too low to sustain production.

“Covid Vaccine Jab Capped At Rs 250 At Private Hospitals: Government – understand vaccine cos  feel betrayed as price is too low to sustain… We r (sic) crushing instead of incentivising vaccine industry,” she tweeted.

Mazumdar Shaw questioned the government on the logic of fixing the vaccine price per dose at Rs 150 (about USD 2).

“If WHO has agreed to USD 3 per dose, why beat them down to USD 2?” she argued.

The vaccine will be administered free of cost at government hospitals, while people will have to pay for taking the jab at private facilities.

The next phase of the world’s largest vaccination programme begins on March 1 with the target being senior citizens and those over 45 with comorbidities.

Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: Pay Rs 250 Per Dose At Private Hospitals