Covaxin Likely To Be Cheaper Than Serum’s Covishield; Vaccines To Be Transported Soon

Bhubaneswar: Indigenously developed Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is likely to be priced lower than Serum Institute’s Covishield.

Covishield will be sold at Rs 200 per vial to the government and at Rs 1,000 in the private market.

The Hyderabad-based company is finalising the prices with the government, the Business Standard reported. Covaxin is currently in 3rd phase trials but has been approved for emergency use along with Serum’s Covishield developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said both the vaccines are “on the verge of being available in the country”. The government is focusing on ensuring seamless last-mile delivery of the vaccine, he added.

With dry runs complete in most places, the vaccines are likely to be transported in a day or two.

For vaccine transportation, private airlines will also be used. Pune will be the central hub and the vaccines will be sent to around 41 destinations from there. New Delhi and Karnal will be mini hubs for north India while Kolkata and Chennai will be hubs for eastern and southern parts respectively.

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