Covid vaccine in India to cost between Rs 200 to Rs 295, says Health secretary

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday said the COVID-19 vaccine may cost in the range of Rs 200 to 295 in India and two vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — have received Emergency Use Authorisation (EAU) after going through established safety and immunogenicity in a well-prescribed regulatory process.

Asserting that the central government has been proactive and pre-emptive in addressing the needs of COVID-19 vaccination in the country, the Union Health Ministry said 54,72,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been received till date at the vaccination stores across the country.

Addressing a press conference here, Bhushan said all the preparedness are on track for COVID-19 vaccine roll out from January 16.
“As early as May 2020, a task force was set up to encourage indigenous Research and Development in vaccines and developing pharmaceutical kits. Efforts of the Taskforce have borne fruit. National Expert Group in Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) was set up in August 2020, headed by Member (Health),” he said.

“A total of 110 lakh doses of Covishield vaccines are being procured from Pune-based drug firm Serum Institue of India (SII) at the cost of Rs 200 per dose. As many as 55 lakh doses of Covaxin vaccine are being procured from Hyderabad-based drug firm Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), of which the cost of 38.5 lakhs doses of Covaxin is Rs 295 per dose. BBIL is providing 16.5 lakh doses of Covaxin free of cost to the central government as a special gesture and hence the cost of Covaxin is Rs 206 per dose,” Bhushan added.

He said 100 per cent doses will be received by January 14, 2021 in all states/UT.
The health secretary said it will be a sequential roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination as the vaccine will be available in a limited quantity.
“In the first phase of vaccination, approximately 1 crore health care workers, approximately 2 crore front line workers and around 27 crore prioritized age-groups will be vaccinated. The cost of vaccination of health care workers and front line workers will be borne by central government solely,” he said.