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New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government’s admission that a potential new entrant in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, ZyCov-D from Gujarat-based Zydus Cadila, will be priced differently from vaccines currently in use – Covisheeld and Covaxin – raised concerns among manufacturers Is. these two vaccines.
The government’s announcement last week that the price of the world’s first DNA vaccine is unlikely to be in the same range as Serum Institute of India (makers of Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (makers of Covaxin) await clarity in the Covid vaccination basket. Is. Vaccine export.
India announced last month just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US that exports of Covid vaccines would resume from October, but companies are yet to be told how much they can export, and by what. on conditions.
giving feedback reports That Zydus has asked for Rs 1,900 for three doses of the vaccine, a person associated with one of the vaccine manufacturers told ThePrint that it is “very unfair” if the government agrees to such a different price.
“It is their decision to use an expensive delivery mechanism for their vaccine. Why should the government pay for it? Such a decision is going to come as a huge demotivator for companies that have kept the program running for so long. Even their production capacity is very less – only about 1 crore are ready. If the rollout is so important, they can just put ZyCov-D, like Sputnik, in the private sector and then see how many people choose to take it on,” the person said.
Sources said the concerns have been informally communicated to the government. However, government officials said such a high price is unlikely to be accepted and talks are on to find a middle ground.
At a Covid-19 briefing last week, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan did not give a date for the introduction of ZyCov-D into the national COVID immunization programme, but made a clear statement that the price of the vaccine would be different. Grace said: “Since then Zykov-D It is a needleless and three-dose vaccine, its cost will be different from the vaccines currently being used.
Indian government currently buys Covishield at Rs 205 per dose and Covaxin at Rs 215 per dose.
ThePrint reached out to both SII and Bharat Biotech for comment via WhatsApp. Though SII declined to make an official statement, Bharat Biotech’s response is awaited.
When asked about the price of the vaccine, a Zydus Cadila spokesperson said that the company has not released anything in this regard. “Keep you posted,” the spokesman said.
Read also: Vaccines reduce COVID transmission risk but only 90-day protection against delta: Oxford study
Needle-free applicator is driving up the cost
ZyCov-D is administered using a needle-free applicator or a jet injector, which pushes the liquid medicine into a narrow stream that is capable of penetrating the skin.
The device consists of two parts – an applicator and a gun.
whereas applicator Made indigenously and costs Rs 90, the gun is imported and costs Rs 30,000. It can be used for 20,000 shots – or 10,000 individuals, as each dose of the vaccine consists of two shots.
No clarity on exports
Just before PM Modi’s US visit last month, the government announced that India would resume vaccine exports from October.
Government an estimate That between October and December, about 100 crore vaccine doses will be available.
The officials said this, apart from questions about international commitments that will inevitably arise during the PM’s stay in the US, assuring the government that announce restart of export.
However, more than two weeks later, no clarity has been given to the vaccine manufacturers about how much they can export.
An SII spokesperson confirmed that the government’s statement on this is awaited.
Sources said the company is already under pressure due to its inability to meet international commitments, especially the supplies needed to deliver Kovax, an international consortium that aims to equitably distribute COVID vaccines.
“We estimate that actual physical exports are unlikely to start this month. Maybe all will be well by early next month,” an industry source said on condition of anonymity.
Read also: Mandaviya says 70% of India’s eligible population has received the first dose of the Kovid vaccine
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