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The Indian Health Ministry announced that booster shots would be available to all above 18 in private centers from Sunday.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “Adding an extra layer of safeguard !… All 18 plus who have completed nine months after administration of the second dose would be eligible for the precaution dose.”

The precaution dose will be a paid one. However, free first and second vaccination doses for all and a free booster shot for 60+ and frontline workers would continue at Government centers.

The Union health ministry’s decision comes when fear of the new Covid variant XE is looming. With some saying a fourth wave driven by the latest virus mutation is less probable in India, others advocate caution.

Nevertheless, booster shots for all adults would help Bharath Biotech and Serum Insitute of India (SII) liquidate their vaccine stocks, as both have halted production due to low demand and stock pile-up.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, said, “We are delighted by the GOI’s announcement on boosters. The decision will further provide long-term protection and aid ease of travel.”

Nearly 23 million people have received their booster shots, including senior citizens and frontline workers. So far, India has administered 1.85 billion Covid vaccine doses, of which 83.3 pc of the total vaccine shots are Covishield and Covaxin 16 pc.   

Cost per dose of vaccines at private centers, excluding GST is:

Covishield – Rs.600 (Slashed to Rs.225)

Covaxin – Rs.1,200 (Slashed to Rs.225)

Sputnik V – Rs.948

Corbevax – Rs.800 

Covishield and Covaxin prices slashed

In a very recent announcement, prices of both Covishield and Covaxin have been slashed to Rs.225 per dose at private vaccination centers/private hospitals.

Adar Poonawalla of SII tweeted, “We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the Central Government, SII has decided to revise the price of COVISHIELD vaccine for private hospitals from Rs.600 to Rs.225 per dose. We once again commend this decision from the Centre to open precautionary dose to all 18+.”

Ms. Suchitra Ella, in her tweet, said, “Announcing Covaxin Pricing, we welcome the decision to make available precautionary dose for all adults. In consultation with the Central Government, we have decided to revise the price of COVAXIN from Rs.1200 to Rs.225 per dose for private hospitals.” 

Reference: Precaution Dose at Rs 225: Prices of Covishield, Covaxin