<p>After facing much criticism for raising the price of Covid vaccine for states in these unprecedented times, Bharat Biotech has slashed the prices of Covaxin, and now it will be available at the rate of Rs 400 per dose to state governments.&nbsp;</p> <p>The announcement has come two days before the beginning of the third phase of the vaccination drive for all those in the 18-44 years age group.</p> <p>The company had earlier set Covaxin&rsquo;s price at Rs 600 per dose for state governments, which has been slashed by Rs 200 per dose in view of the challenges the country and citizens are facing during the second wave of Covid 19.</p> <p>Thus, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin will be available to the Centre at Rs 150 per dose,&nbsp;to states at Rs 400 per dose, and to&nbsp;private laboratories at Rs 1,200 per dose.</p> <p>Bharat Biotech in a statement said "it is deeply concerned with the critical pandemic circumstances that India is facing at this time. Recognizing the enormous challenges to the public health care system, we have made <strong>COVAXIN</strong> available to State Governments at a price of Rs 400 per dose."</p> <p>"We wish to be transparent in our approach to pricing which was determined by internally funded product management, several operationally intensive BSL-3 manufacturing facilities (the first of its kind in our country), and clinical trials."</p> <p>"We wish to champion "Innovation in India" and our commitment to public health is absolute."</p> <p>Bharat Biotech's announcement, notably, also comes a few days after, after Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, which is manufacturing Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine Covishield slashed the prices for state govt.</p> <p>SII had set a price of Rs 400 per dose of Covishield for states, which, on April 28, was reduced to Rs 300 per dose. Poonawalla tweeted:&nbsp;&nbsp;"I hereby reduce the price to the states from Rs 400 to Rs 300 per dose, effective immediately; this will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives</p>

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