Zydus Cadila Agrees To Reduce Its Covid Vaccine Price To Rs 265 A Dose, Final Decision Soon: Sources

Zydus Cadila has reportedly agreed to reduce the price of its needle-free COVID-19 vaccination to Rs 265 per dose after months of discussions.

Each dose of ZyCov-D vaccination requires a disposable painless jet applicator, which costs Rs 93, bringing the total cost to Rs 358 per dose, according to the PTI.

”The company has brought down the price to Rs 358 for each dose which includes Rs 93, the cost of a disposable jet applicator, following repeated negotiations by the government…. A final decision in the matter is likely to be taken this week,” a source told the news agency.

The Ahmedabad-based pharma firm had previously recommended pricing for its three-dose ZyCov-D vaccine at Rs 1,900, with a shot in both arms (one dosage) given 28 days apart.

On August 20, the drug regulator approved the use of ZyCoV-D in an emergency situation, making it the first vaccination to be given to anyone aged 12 and up.

The government, on the other hand, is still waiting for recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) on whether to include the world’s first DNA-based needle-free COVID-19 vaccine in the immunization drive for adults and children with co-morbidities.

The government said earlier this month that the vaccine would be included in the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination drive soon.