CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII), Adar Poonawalla on Tuesday said his company has decided to sell the first 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine - Covishield at a special price to the Indian government.
“To the Govt of India, we'll still maintain a very reasonable price but it will be a little bit more than Rs 200 which is our cost price. So we decided not to make any profit, we wanted to support the nation & Govt of India for the first 100 million doses,” said Adar Poonawalla.
Adar Poonawalla said SII will be selling the first 100 million doses at Rs 200 per dose, following the government's request, however, the SII will sell the vaccine at Rs 1,000 per dose to private markets.
“We've given a special price of Rs 200 for the first 100 mn doses only to GoI on their request that we want to support common man, vulnerable, poor, healthcare workers. After that, we'll be selling it at Rs 1000 in Pvt markets,” said Poonawalla.
Early Tuesday morning, the first consignment of Covishield vaccine produced by Oxford University and AstraZeneca and manufactured in India by the Serum Institute was dispatched from its Pune facility to 13 locations across the country.
Poonawalla speaking to a media agency said, “This is a historical moment that vaccine is being dispatched from our factory. Our main challenge is to bring it to everyone in the country. It is our challenge for 2021, let’s see how it happens.”
India will commence vaccinating it's the population with Covishield and Bharat BioTech's Covaxin from January 16.
"It is a relief day for all of us as the entire team is working tirelessly for the last few months. We have offered Rs 200/dose for first the 100 million doses only in India to make the vaccine available for aam admi. Many countries are approaching India for vaccines. We are trying to supply to Africa and other countries. These things are being worked out and the government is also working on it," Adar Poonawala said.
The Serum Institute would be making 70-80 million doses of the vaccine per month, informed Poonawalla in order to meet the requirement of India and other foreign nations demanding for vaccine supplies.
“We make 70-80 million doses every month. Planning is underway to see how many will be given to India and foreign countries. The Health Ministry has made logistics plans. We also have a partnership with Pvt players for trucks, vans and cold storage,” Poonawalla added.
Meantime, SII’s covid-19 vaccine has been transported from Pune to 13 cities across the country, Union aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday.
Also Read: Covishield Covid-19 vaccine cost Rs 200 a flask, purchase order likely today, sources
Vaccines have been transported to Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Shillong, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Chandigarh, Puri had tweeted.
During the early hours of Tuesday, three temperature-controlled trucks were seen coming out of the Serum Institute premises and the first consignment of Covishield doses shots arrived in the national capital at 10 am after which the doses were seen delivered to other states such as Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka etc.