New Delhi: The Serum Institute of India said on Wednesday it would sell the AstraZeneca vaccine to the country's state governments at Rs 400 per dose and to private hospitals at Rs 600.
"Furthermore, owing to the complexity, and urgency of the situation it is challenging to supply it independently to each corporate entity," it said in a statement.
"We would urge all corporate and private individuals to access the vaccines through the state facilitated machinery and private health systems."
Serum's announcement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the vaccine manufacturers to continuously scale up the production capacity to vaccinate countrymen in the shortest possible time.
Modi interacted with vaccine manufacturers from across the country via video conferencing. He applauded the vaccine manufacturers for their achievements and professionalism. He said that the biggest strengths of our vaccine industry are its 'Samarthya, Sansadhan and Seva Bhaav', and these are what makes them a vaccine leader in the world.
Believing in the ability of the vaccine manufacturers, PM Modi said, "The government has now allowed the vaccination programme for every adult starting May 1."
He urged the vaccine manufacturers to continuously scale up the production capacity to vaccinate the people in the shortest possible time. He also appreciated the efforts and studies being conducted by Indian scientists for the development of new vaccines.
Modi credited the vaccine manufacturers for developing and producing vaccines in record time. Noting the fact that vaccines manufactured here are the cheapest, he said the world's largest vaccination programme is underway in India. He remarked that throughout this process of developing and manufacturing vaccines, the country has constantly worked with the spirit of public-private partnership under the 'Mission Covid Suraksha', and created an end-to-end vaccine development ecosystem.
The vaccine manufacturers thanked the Prime Minister for the Government's decision of allowing vaccination for everyone above the age of 18 and various steps taken to give more incentives and flexibility. They also appreciated Modi's leadership for the support they have received from the Government throughout the process of vaccine development and production. They also discussed their plans to ramp up production, upcoming vaccine candidates and research on the new variants.
