Bharat Biotech toes Serum line, to provide Covaxin at Rs 225; booster dose from today

Hyderabad: The Centre has distributed the first two doses of vaccines free of charge for protection from the Corona. However, the booster dose will not be provided free to all whereas elderly and front-line warriors would be given a free dose.

Meanwhile, domestic vaccine manufacturers, such as Serum and Bharat Biotech, have set booster dosage prices slightly higher. The Serum Institute reconsidered this and reduced the price of its Coveshield from Rs 600 to Rs 225 while Bharat Biotech has also slashed its Covaxin price from Rs 1,200 to Rs 225 as announced by the Serum. To this end, Bharat Biotech Joint MD Suchitra Ella released a statement. Both the companies are ready to offer the booster dose for Rs 225.

The Centre has decided to give a Corona vaccine booster dose to those 18 years of age and above in the country. Those aged 18 and above will be given a booster dose at private Corona vaccination centres. Furthermore, Poonawala once again appreciated the Centre's decision to give a booster dose to all those above 18 years of age. 

The Centre has decided to give the third dose of Corona vaccine from Sunday and clarified that registration is not required for this and it is a precautionary dose. The same vaccine dose, which was taken for times, will be administered for the third time, the Union Health Secretary announced. Addressing the media on Saturday after a meeting with secretaries of state health departments, he clarified that registration is not required to take the precautionary dose as they have registered for the first two doses already.