Vax for States Serum cuts price to ₹300

New Delhi Serum Institute of India (SII) - the maker of the most used Covid-19 vaccine in the country - on Wednesday announced a cut in price of the jab it plans to sell to States to Rs 300 per dose from the earlier Rs 400. This follows widespread criticism of its pricing policy as it has sold the initial doses of Covishield to the central government at Rs 150 per dose. SII's CEO Adar Poonawalla took to Twitter to announce the "philanthropic" gesture. "As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of @SerumInstIndia, I hereby reduce the price to the States from Rs 400 to Rs 300 per dose, effective immediately; this will save thousands of crores of State funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives," he said.

According to official sources, the central government on Monday had asked SII and Bharat Biotech to lower the prices of their Covid-19 vaccines amid criticism from various States who accused the companies of profiteering during such a major crisis. The issue of vaccine pricing was discussed at a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.