In the wake of the Centre allowing the states to buy Covid Vaccines directly from the manufacturers, the Bihar government has decided to procure Covishield from Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, for vaccinating people above the age of 18 from May 1. CM Nitish Kumar has already announced that free Covid vaccines for everyone above 18.
Altogether 5.46crore people in the 18-44 age group have been identified for vaccination in the next phase starting May 1. As SII has announced its rates for procurement by states, we have decided to place our first order ahead of the commencement of vaccination of people above the age of 18.
the Centre announced its strategy for phase-3 of vaccination against Covid, which included inoculation of everyone above 18. It stated that vaccine manufacturers would supply 50% of their monthly production to the central government and they would be free to supply the remaining 50% to the state governments and in the open market (private hospitals). Manufacturers have also been asked to declare their prices for the supply to state governments and open markets.
SII announced that it will charge Rs400 per dose for Covishield from the state and Rs600 per dose from private hospitals from May 1, when open for all adults.