The Union Department of Health announced on Friday that from April 10, booster doses will be available to all adults at Covid-19 private immunization centers. Shortly afterwards, Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla said the Covishield precautionary (booster) for all adults would cost R600 per shot and taxes.
In an interview with CNBC, Poonawalla said SII would distribute booster jabs to clinics and hospitals.
At that time, Covovax – which has not yet been officially announced as a promotional shot, will cost about R900 plus taxes, once approved. The vaccine is currently being used to inject adults and those in the 12-17 age group in emergencies.
India began providing monitoring volumes to top staff, health care professionals and senior citizens with comorbidities in January this year. In March, the Center extended coverage to all people over the age of 60. The incentive rate for these beneficiaries is provided by the government free of charge, which will not be the case for adults when they open on April 10.
In a statement, the Center said all adults “who have been discharged for nine months after the administration of the second dose (Covid-19 vaccine),” will be eligible for safety measures.
The center also said that the ongoing campaign to engage health workers, as well as those over the age of 60 through government immunization centers, would continue and that their pace would be accelerated.