INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Zydus Cadila has consented to minimize cost of its vaccine doseZydus Cadila has actually agreed to lower the price of its COVID-19 vaccine
to Rs 265 a dosage following consistent settlements by the federal government however a final deal is yet to be reached, sources stated on
Sunday.Zydus Cadila's ZyCov-D is the very first vaccine cleared by India's drug regulator for inoculation of those aged 12 years and
above.To administer the needle-free vaccine, a non reusable painless jet applicator costing Rs 93 is needed for each dosage, which would
take the price to Rs 358 per dose.The Ahmedabad-based pharma business previously had actually proposed a price of Rs 1,900 for its
three-dose program, sources stated
The business has actually lowered the cost to Rs 358 for each dosage which includes Rs 93, the expense of a non reusable jet applicator,
following repeated negotiations by the federal government ..
A final decision in the matter is most likely to be taken this week, a source in the know of developments said.The 3 dosages are to be
administered 28 days apart, with each dose comprising a shot in both arms.The indigenously established world's first DNA-based needle-free
COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D got emergency usage authorisation from the drug regulator on August 20
On the other hand, the federal government is still waiting for the recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on
Immunisation (NTAGI) for introducing ZyCoV-D in the shot drive for grownups and children with co-morbidities
NTAGI will supply the procedure and structure for the intro of this vaccine in the COVID-19 immunisation drive.Official sources previously
had actually stated that the pricing of ZyCoV-D would be different from that of Covaxin and Covishield as apart from being a three-dose
vaccine, it requires a special pharma jet injector that needs to be used for administering the vaccine.That pharma jet injector can be used
for administering around 20,000 dosages
The jet applicator helps the vaccine fluid to permeate the skin to go into cells of the recipient, the source said.Zydus Cadila can supply
around two crore dosages in November, a source had said.The government is presently acquiring two other vaccines - Covishield at Rs 205 per
dosage and Covaxin at Rs 215 per dose-- for the national COVID-19 immunisation programme.Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are being offered
to just those above 18 years of age and unlike ZyCoV-D, these are two-dose regimens.India has administered more than 106 crore doses of
COVID-19 vaccine so far.The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the
The vaccination of frontline workers began with February 2
The next stage of COVID-19 vaccination started from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with defined
co-morbid conditions.The country released vaccination for all individuals aged more than 45 years from April 1
The federal government then chose to expand its vaccination drive by permitting everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.
