SII receives government purchase order for Covid-19 vaccines

The Serum Institute of India has officially received the purchase order from government for Covid-19 vaccines. 

According to SII officials, the vaccine could be available for the government at the price of Rs 200 per vial.
 

The first 11 million doses of the vaccine will roll out of the SII plant tonight or early tomorrow.
 

The government has signed another purchase agreement with Bharat Biotech for its COVID-19 vaccine.
 

Earlier in the day, reports had surfaced of negotiations going on between SII and the government over the vaccine's price.
 

To recall, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla had told the CNBC-TV18 channel in November the vaccine would be priced at about 1,000 rupees ($13.55) per dose for the private market in India and would cost the government about 250 Indian rupees ($3.40) per dose.
 

According to a Reuters report, the Centre wanted the vaccine to be priced under 3 Dollars (Rs 220).
 

Clarity is awaited on how much the government is officially paying the Serum Institute for its vaccine.