Hyd-based Biological E's Covid19 vaccine Corbevax price slashed from Rs 990 to Rs 400

Hyderabad: The city-based pharmaceutical company Biological E. Limited (BE) on Monday reduced the price of its Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax from Rs 840 to Rs 250 inclusive of GST, for private COVID-19 vaccination centers. For the end-user, the price would be Rs 400 a dose, including taxes and administration charges.

Previously, in private vaccination centers, the overall cost to end-users of the vaccine was Rs 990 a dose, including taxes and administration charges.

The pharma company said that the price was reduced to make it more affordable and to help increase the reach of the vaccine to protect the maximum number of children against the virus. The decision came within weeks of Biological E. Limited receiving Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for children between 5 and 12 years of age. The vaccine is also offered in a single-dose vial, making it more convenient for vaccine administration.

Biological E. has developed India's first Indigenous Sub-unit Covid-19 vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Last month the company said that it has manufactured 30 crore doses of Corbevax and has already supplied nearly 10 crore doses to the Government of India.

Currently, over 3 crore doses of Corbevax have been administered to children between 12-15 years of age.

In March this year when the inoculation of children in the age group of 12 to 14 years against COVID-19 commenced in the country, the Corbevax vaccine was used and its price was fixed at Rs 145 for the government vaccination program.

In April this year, India's drug regulator granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for Biological E's Corbevax for children in the age group of 5 to 12 years along with Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for children in the age group of 6 to 12 years.