SII Announces Covishield Vaccine Prices: Rs 400 For State Govt; Rs 600 For Private Hospitals

The Serum Institute of India said it would sell the AstraZeneca vaccine to the country's state governments at Rs 400 per dose and to private hospitals at Rs 600.

"Furthermore, owing to the complexity, and urgency of the situation it is challenging to supply it independently to each corporate entity," it said in a statement.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/bTsMs8AKth

¡ª SerumInstituteIndia (@SerumInstIndia) April 21, 2021

"We would urge all corporate and private individuals to access the vaccines through the state facilitated machinery and private health systems," it said.

Government opens vaccination for all above 18

Taking a major step in the mass vaccination drive against COVID-19 in India, the central government announced that from May 1, everyone in the country, above the age of 18 are eligible to get the shots.

Under the third phase of the vaccination drive commencing next month, the vaccine manufacturers would be free to supply 50 percent doses to state governments and in the open market for which they will have to make an advance declaration of the price before May 1, according to an official statement.

PTI

"The private vaccination providers would need to transparently declare their self-set vaccination price and the eligibility through this channel would be opened up to all adults, that is everyone above the age of 18," the statement added.

Vaccination will continue as before in the government of India vaccination centres free of cost to the eligible population -- healthcare and frontline workers and all people above 45 years of age.