Centre to buy 1 crore shots of Zydus Cadila’s Covid-19 vaccine at ₹265 per dose
Zydus' ZyCoV-D received emergency use authorisation from India's drug regulator on 20 August
The central government has placed a purchase order of 1 crore doses of Zydus Cadila's three-dose Covid vaccine ZyCoV-D at ₹265 per dose, the company said in a statement on Monday.
The world's first DNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D is to be given first on day zero, day 28th and then on the 56th day.
It will be administered using a needle-free applicator as opposed to traditional syringes. The applicator, called "PharmaJet", will be sold at ₹93 per dose, excluding GST.
“The pricing has been decided in consultation with the Government of India,” the Gujarat-based firm said.
The vaccine received emergency use authorisation from India's drug regulator on 20 August, and is the first one cleared for inoculation of those aged 12 years and above in the country.
However, a comprehensive programme for paediatric immunisation, including developing a priority list of comorbidities, is still being worked out by the NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) for the launch of ZyCoV-D and Covaxin.
“We are happy to support the government’s vaccination programme with ZyCoV-D," said Dr Sharvil Patel, the company's managing director, after receiving the Centre's order.
“The needle-free application of the vaccination, we hope, will motivate many more to vaccinate and safeguard themselves from Covid-19, especially children and young adults in the age group of 12 to 18 years,” added Patel.
The vaccine is set to become a part of the national anti-coronavirus inoculation programme this month.
For administering to adults, frontline workers and vaccinators will be provided a brief training for using the needle-free pharma jet application in actual field settings.
Zydus earlier had proposed a price of ₹1,900 for its three-dose regimen. However, it agreed to bring down the price following persistent negotiations by the government.
The government has been procuring Covishield at ₹205 per dose and Covaxin at ₹215 per dose until now.
Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are being given to only those above 18 years of age and unlike ZyCoV-D, are two-dose regimens.
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Business NewsNewsIndiaCentre to buy 1 crore shots of Zydus Cadila’s Covid-19 vaccine at ₹265 per dose
First Published:8 Nov 2021, 04:09 PM IST
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