According to reports, the Central government has asked the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to reduce the price of the Covid-19 vaccine following backlash from various states criticizing that the companies are profiteering amidst the crisis.
The two companies are expected to revise the pricing for their vaccines. Bharat Biotech, the Hyderabad-based company has fixed the price of Covid-19 as Rs 600 per dose for state government, while Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals. Reportedly, both vaccines are available at a rate of Rs 150 per dose to the central government.
Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that this is not the right time for profiteering and also many states have expressed protests over different prices of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government announced that they will vaccinate its entire adult population for free after widening its vaccination drive from May 1. Arvind Kejriwal said that the government has approved the purchase of 13.4 million doses of vaccine and that his government will speed up the process to procure it. He also urged vaccine manufacturers to lower the price and to consider 'one nation, one rate' police for the Covid-19 vaccine.
According to reports, the free vaccines will be only for the residents of Delhi and government is yet to finalize the detailed plan of the drive.
