India’s think tank NITI Aayog has proposed a price range between Rs.300 to Rs.500 for the two Covid vaccines that would be available at private facilities in the third stage of vaccination which is beginning from March 1. Sources privy to the development told media that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin may come at a slightly higher price.
The union health ministry is yet to take a call on the final price at which the vaccines will be made available.
NITI Aayog and officials from Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech held a meeting on Friday to deliberate upon the pricing.
It is also reported that private facilities may collect a “service charge” of up to Rs.100 from beneficiaries to meet operational expenses they may incur during the vaccination drive. This will be in addition to the vaccine cost.
Approximately 27 crore people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities are likely to be vaccinated at 10,000 government and 20,000 private vaccination centres.
