Serum reveals Covishield prices: Rs 400 for state govts, Rs 600 for private hospitals

The Serum Institute of India on Wednesday released the new prices for Covishield COVID-19 vaccine for state governments and private hospitals in line with the government's revised vaccine policy.

In a media statement, Serum Institute welcomed the government's announcements, noting it would help scale up vaccine production and "allow state governments, private hospitals and vaccination centres to procure vaccines directly”.

Serum Institute revealed the price of Covishield sold to state governments would be Rs 400 per dose and for private hospitals would be Rs 600 per dose. The prices are higher than the earlier fixed price of Rs 250 per dose that the Centre had set.

Serum Institute also displayed approximate prices of Russian and Chinese vaccines (at least Rs 750 per dose) and US vaccines (Rs 1,500), to show the affordability of Covishield.

Serum Institute announced it would dedicate 50 per cent of its production capacities to the Centre's vaccination programme and remainder to the requirements of state governments and private hospitals.

Serum Institute urged all corporate and private individuals to access vaccines via the state-facilitated machinery and private health systems. "Post 4-5 months, the vaccines will be made available in retail and free trade," Serum Institute stated.