Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's biggest vaccine maker is close on the heels to signa supply contract with the Union government and likely to fix prices at Rs 250 ($3.39) per dose of the vaccine, Business Standard reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The government is hoping for mass supply from Serum Institute, which lodged the first formal application for emergency-use approval of AstraZeneca’s shot on Monday.
Serum Institute,which has applied to the regulator for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the Covishield vaccine,and the Indian Ministry of Health did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comments.
Adar Poonawalla, the Chief Executive Officer had earlier tweeted that the vaccine would be priced at Rs 1,000 ($13.55) per dose in India’s private market, but governments signing large supply deals would likely buy it at lower prices. Poonawalla had said Serum will first focus on supplying the vaccine to Indians before distributing it to other countries.
India which has recorded 97 lakh Covid-19 casesso far, is second worst-hit only to the United States and is accelerating its review of vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca to authorize for emergency use.(With inputs from agency)
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