New Delhi: The Union government has asked Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech to lower the price of COVID-19 vaccines which they have announced for state governments and private hospitals.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has set the price of Covaxin at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospi
tals.
The corresponding prices for SII-manufactured Covishield have been fixed at Rs 400 for state governments and Rs 600 for private hospitals.
There has been a hue and cry by several states and Opposition leaders over the price of vaccines declared by the two manufacturers after the Centre announced that 50% of monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL)-released doses will be supplied to state governments and open market from May 1, when all above the age of 18 will be eligible to get the jab.
According to a PTI report, the issue of vaccine pricing was discussed at a meeting chaired by Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday.
SII and Bharat Biotech are providing the vaccines to the central government at a rate of Rs 150 per dose.