Center asks Bharat Biotech to reduce vaccine prices

New prices of both companies are much higher than before

Corona vaccination will start in the country for those above 18 years of age from May 1. For this, Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute has announced new prices of their Covid vaccine. However, these prices are being disputed as the doses given earlier are quite expensive. Now the news has come that the central government has asked both companies to reduce the cost of the vaccine.

According to news agency PTI, the issue of vaccine prices was discussed in a meeting of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba. It is being said that now both companies can issue new prices.

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had announced to sell its Covid vaccine Covaxin at a price of Rs 600 per dose to state governments and Rs 1200 per dose to private hospitals.

At the same time, the Pune-based Serum Institute had said that it would sell the Covishield vaccine at the rate of Rs 400 per dose to the state governments and Rs 600 per dose to private hospitals.

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Both these vaccines are being received by the central government so far at a price of Rs 150 per dose.

Government wants profiteering? – Chidambaram

Many states have objected to the increased prices of both Covid vaccines. Many states have announced to give free vaccine to people in the age group of 18-45. But these states have also appealed to reduce the vaccine prices.

Congress leader P Chidambaram had described the new prices as ‘profiteering’. Chidambaram said in a statement on 25 April, “There is also a view that even at Rs 150 per dose, both manufacturers are making little profit. If this is true then it will be profiteering at Rs 400-1000. Perhaps this is what the government wants is.”