New Delhi: Zydus Cadila has agreed to reduce the price of Covid-19 vaccine to RS 265 dosage after persistent negotiations by the government but the last agreement has not been achieved, said the source on Sunday.
To manage a needle-free Zycov-D vaccine, a tasteless jet applicator for RS 93 is needed for each dose, which will take prices to Rs 358 per dose.
The Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company has previously proposed a price of 1,900 Rs to the three-dose regimen, a source said.
“The company has reduced prices to RS 358 for each dose that includes Rs 93, the cost of a disposable jet applicator, after repeated negotiations by the government.
The final decision in this problem is likely to be taken this week,” A source in knowing the development told PTI.
Three doses must be given 28 separate days, with each dose consisting of a shot on both arms.
The first-based Covid-19 vaccine developed accidentally, Zycov-D accepted the authorization of emergency use from the drug regulator on August 20, making it the first vaccine given to those aged 12 years and over.
Meanwhile, the government is still awaiting recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on immunization (NTagi) to introduce Zycov-D in inoculation drives for adults and children with co-morbitas.
Ntagi will provide a protocol and framework for the introduction of this vaccine in the Covid-19 immunization drive.
Previous official resources said that the price of Zycov-D would be different from Covaxin and Covishield as other than becoming a three-dose vaccine, requiring a special jet pharmaceutical injector that must be used to manage vaccines.
That pharmaceutical jet injectors can be used to manage around 20,000 doses.
“The jet applicator helps the vaccine liquid to penetrate the skin to enter the recipient’s cells,” said the source.
The government currently conducts two other vaccines – Covishield at Rs 205 per dose and Covaxin at Rs 215 per dose – for Covid-19 National Immunization Program.
Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik v are given only at the age of 18 years and unlike Zycov-D, this is a two-dose regimen.