KATHMANDU, APRIL 21

Serum Institute of India (SII) announced on Wednesday that state government of India, private hospitals and other vaccination centres in the country can now directly procure Covishield vaccines.

With India reporting world's highest number of daily infections, the total nearing 300,000 cases today, and hospitals struggling with bed shortages and oxygen supplies running low, India's Ministry of Health and Finance Ministry has decided to pace up the vaccination drive.

SII in the media statement released today shared that it will sell its vaccine, Covishield, to state government at Rs INR 400 ($5.30) per dose and to private hospitals at 600 rupees ($7.95), aiming to ensure affordability for all.

The Institute further shared that it will be addressing the limited capacity issue by boosting vaccine production further for the next two months. It also shared that 50% of its production goes to Government of India for its vaccination programme while the other 50% will be for the State governments and private hospitals.

'Furthermore, owing to the complexity, and urgency of the situation it is challenging to supply it independently to each corporate entity,' the statement said. 'We would urge all corporate and private individuals to access the vaccines through the state facilitated machinery and private health systems.'

The institute aims to make the vaccines available in retail and free trade within four or five months.