NEW DELH, April 8: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla while welcoming the government’s decision to open booster shots for all adults from Sunday at private vaccination centres, said Covishield would cost the recipients Rs 600 plus taxes.
He said SII’s another product Covovax, when approved as booster dose, would be available at around Rs 900 plus taxes.
Calling it a crucial and timely decision, the vaccine tycoon said people who wished to travel were finding it difficult to do so without a third dose as several countries have placed restrictions on those who have not taken a booster dose. “Covishield is approved as a booster dose and Covovax will eventually be approved as a booster as well,” he said.
Poonawalla said SII would offer large discounts to hospitals and distributors who will offer boosters. India’s drug regulator had last month granted restricted emergency use authorisation to Serum Institute’s COVID-19 vaccine Covovax for the 12-17 years age group subject to certain conditions. Covovax is manufactured by technology transfer from Novavax and is approved by the European Medicines Agency for conditional marketing authorisation and also granted emergency use listing by WHO on December 2017, 2020.
“Ongoing free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for first and second dose as well as Precaution Dose to Healthcare Workers, Frontline Workers and 60+ population would continue and would be accelerated,” a government statement said announcing the decision on Friday.
(Manas Dasgupta)