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Zydus Cadila Agrees To Reduce Covid Vaccine Price To Rs 265 Per Dose

Zydus Cadila agree to reduce price of its vaccine dose. Zydus Cadila has agree to bring down the price of its COVID-19 vaccine to Rs 265 a dose. It is following persistent negotiations by the government. But a final deal is yet to  reach, sources said on Sunday. Zydus Cadila's ZyCov-D is the first vaccine clear by India's drug regulator for inoculation of those age 12 years and above.

To administer the needle-free vaccine, a disposable painless jet applicator costing Rs 93 is require for each dose, which would take the price to Rs 358 per dose.

Zydus Cadila's ZyCov-D Price

The Ahmedabad-based pharma company earlier had propose a price of Rs 1,900 for its three-dose regimen, sources said. "The company has brought down the price to Rs 358 for each dose which includes Rs 93, the cost of a disposable jet applicator, following repeats negotiations by the government. A final decision in the matter is likely to be take this week," a source in the know of developments said. The three doses are to be administer 28 days apart, with each dose comprising a shot in both arms. The indigenously develops world's first DNA-based needle-free COVID-19 vaccine. ZyCoV-D received emergency use authorization from the drug regulator on August 20. Meanwhile, the government is still waiting for the recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). It is for introducing ZyCoV-D in the inoculation drive for adults and children with co-morbidities. NTAGI will provide the protocol and framework for the introduction of this vaccine in the COVID-19 immunization drive. Official sources earlier had said that the pricing of ZyCoV-D would be different from that of Covaxin and Covishield. As apart from being a three-dose vaccine, it requires a special pharma jet injector that has to be used for administering the vaccine. That pharma jet injector can be used for administering around 20,000 doses. "The jet applicator helps the vaccine fluid to penetrate the skin to enter cells of the recipient," the source said. Zydus Cadila can provide around two crore doses in November, a source had said. The government is currently procuring two other vaccines. Covishield at Rs 205 per dose and Covaxin at Rs 215 per dose for the national COVID-19 immunization program. Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V give to only those above 18 years of age. Unlike ZyCoV-D, these are two-dose regimens. India has administer more than 106 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far.

Countrywide Vaccination Drive

The countrywide vaccination drive was roll out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculate in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commence from March 1 for people over 60 years of age. Those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launch vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decides to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinate from May 1. Source link Read the full article