Covishield, Covaxin prices cut to Rs 225 per dose

A day before Covid vaccine booster shots become available to all Indian adults, the prices of Covishield and Covaxin at private hospitals have been slashed by more than half.  Both the vaccine doses will now cost Rs 225. While Covishield has been slashed from Rs 600, Covaxin is down from Rs 1,200 per dose. Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla and Bharat Biotech cofounder Suchitra Ella made the announcement on Twitter on Saturday. The decision was taken after discussions with the Centre.

We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the Central Government, SII has decided to revise the price of COVISHIELD vaccine for private hospitals from Rs.600 to Rs 225 per dose. We once again commend this decision from the Centre to open precautionary dose to all 18+.

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) April 9, 2022

The Union Health Ministry on Friday announced that those above the age of 18 years who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose will be eligible for the precaution dose.

Announcing #CovaxinPricing .
We welcome the decision to make available precautionary dose for all adults. In consultation with the Central Government, we have decided to revise the price of #COVAXIN from Rs 1200 to Rs 225 per dose, for #privatehospitals.

— Suchitra Ella (@SuchitraElla) April 9, 2022

A third dose has already been rolled out free of cost for frontline workers and people aged 60 and above, but others will have to pay for the precaution doses which will be available for them only at private vaccination centres.India began administering the booster doses to frontline workers, healthcare professionals and senior citizens with comorbidities in January 2022. So far, a total of 2.40 crore precaution doses have been administered, according to the health ministry data.