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In India, the price of a single dose Pfizer’s COVID 19 vaccine is predicted to be priced under $10 (about Rs 730). This could be the lowest price for the mRNA- based jab globally.
Business Standard stated that a source reported, “It is a single-digit price per dose. This is not-for-profit price for government’s immunization programme.” The two shot vaccine has been manufactured by the American pharma giant and its German partner BioNTech.
The report claimed that if the vaccine comes under $10 in the country, the price would be nearly half of that in developed markets like the United States, United Kingdom and European Union.
According to the report, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is priced in the US for $19.5(Rs 1,423) per dose. In the UK the vaccine costs nearly $21 (Rs 1,532). In the EU, initially the price was around $18.9 per dose but at present price negotiation are in process for a higher price of $23.2 (Rs 1,693) per dose.
Pfizer is in discussions with the Indian government for supplying its COVID-19 vaccine in the country. A Pfizer spokesperson stated, “Pfizer has offered to make the required doses of our COVID -19 vaccine available at not-for-profit price for India, as for all low and lower middle income countries once we have the necessary regulatory clearance.” He further stated, “Currently, as our discussions with the government of India are ongoing and confidential, we cannot provide further details.”
In the private market in India, the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V is priced at Rs 995 per dose (inclusive of all taxes). India’s first indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin is priced at Rs 1200 and the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is Rs 600 at private hospitals. At the moment, the price of vaccine is Rs 150 for the Centre.
In US, the vaccine maker has been given legal protection. However, in India, the US pharmaceutical giant is in talks with the central government on indemnity.