SII had earlier indicated that they were capable of supplying a few million doses of Covishield per week
Ahead of India’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out from January 16, Pune-based Serum Institute of India has reportedly received the official purchase order from the Government of India for Covishield, SII’s brand of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Agency reports quoted a senior SII official who indicated that the order was received on Monday January 11 afternoon. The price has been fixed at Rs 200, and a post GST price of Rs 220, for the first 100 million doses so far.
SII had earlier indicated that they were capable of supplying a few million doses of Covishield per week. 11 million doses may be supplied in the initial lot, with the export of the particular vaccine expected to start after the roll-out of India’s COVID-19 vaccination schedule on January 16, as per agency reports.
The Prime Minister Modi had indicated on January 9 that India’s COVID-19 vaccination schedule would roll out from January 16, after three phases of dry runs and post forthcoming festivals including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu etc.
Covishield is one of two vaccines to have received Restricted Emergency approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on January 3, the other being ICMR/NIV/Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.