New Delhi: The decision to make precaution (booster) doses for COVID-19 vaccine available for everyone above the age of 18 from April 10 was announced by the Union Health ministry on Friday.
A few hours later, Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla said a Covishield booster dose at private COVID vaccine centres will cost Rs 600 plus taxes.
Poonawalla said during an interview with CNBC that Serum Institute will distribute Covishield to clinic and hospitals which will administer the booster shots.
The Union government said that all adults who have completed nine months after the administration of second dose of COVID vaccine would be eligible for the precaution shot.
Covovax, another COVID vaccine approved for emergency use by DCGI but is yet to be announced as a booster shot, will be priced around Rs 900 plus taxes per dose. Covovas is currently being used to inoculate those above 12 years.
India launched the booster dose to frontline workers, healthcare professionals and senior citizens with comorbidities in January 2022. Two months later, the coverage was extended to everyone above 60. That is being provided by the government free of cost.
From April 10, those adults eligible for the booster will have to pay for the vaccine.
