Covishield, Covaxin prices slashed ahead of booster drive expansion

Only adults who have completed nine months since the administration of the second dose will be eligible for the precaution dose.

NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India has reduced the price of its Covishield vaccine from Rs 600 to Rs 225 per dose for private hospitals, the vaccine maker announced on Saturday.

Bharat Biotech also slashed the price of Covaxin from Rs 1200 to 225 per dose.The price cut comes a day after the Centre opened booster shots, or “precaution dose”, of Covid vaccines for all adults aged 18 years and above at private vaccination centres from April 10.

Over 2. 4 crore people have already received the precaution dose across the country under the government programme.
The ongoing free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for the first, second and the precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and people aged 60 and above will continue and the pace would be accelerated, the health ministry said.