New Delhi: Amid an ongoing wave of Covid-19, the government is likely to cap the prices of Covishield and Covaxin, the Covid vaccines which are expected to soon get regular market approval from India's drug regulator. The price, as per the official sources, is likely to be capped at Rs 275 per dose plus an additional service charge of Rs 150.
According to them, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has been directed to start working towards capping the price to make the vaccines affordable. As of now, Covaxin is priced at Rs 1,200 per dose while Covishield costs Rs 780 in private facilities. The prices include Rs 150 service charge. Both the vaccines are only authorised for emergency use in the country.
From early 2021, when the Covid vaccination drive began, India has come a long way as the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across the country crossed 163.49 crore on Tuesday, according to the Union Health Ministry. The vaccines have been successful in preventing severe Covid-19 disease to a large extent as studies have found that they prompt the body to make effective, long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2 that can recognise variants of concern, including Omicron.
A Subject Expert Committee on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on January 19 recommended granting regular market approval to Covid vaccines Covishield and Covaxin for use in the adult population subject to certain conditions.
"The NPPA has been asked to work towards capping the price of the vaccines. The price is likely to be capped at Rs 275 per dose along with an additional service charge of Rs 150," an official source said.
Prakash Kumar Singh, the director (government and regulatory affairs) at Serum Institute of India, had submitted an application to the Drugs Controller General of India on October 25 seeking regular market approval for its Covishiled vaccine.
A couple of weeks ago, V Krishna Mohan, the whole-time director at Bharat Biotech, submitted complete information on the chemistry, manufacturing and controls, along with the pre-clinical and clinical data while seeking regular market authorisation for Covaxin. Covaxin and Covishield were granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) on January 3 last year.
Read: 30% people lose vaccine-acquired immunity after 6 months: Study
