The government and Zydus Cadila are expected to decide on the price of ZyCoV-D, the world’s first DNA vaccine against Covid-19, this week, people aware of the development said.
“The final meeting to decide on the price of the vaccine is likely to happen this week,” one of them told ET. “The company was asked to submit the details regarding the cost. The negotiations are on and a decision will be taken soon.”
The Centre is looking to roll out the country’s first vaccine approved for children aged 12 years and above on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the sources said. ZyCoV-D is likely to cost more than Covishield but will be comparable with those already approved, they said.
Its pricing will be decided at a meeting between company representatives and the National Expert Group in Vaccine Administration for Covid (NEGVAC), headed by Niti Aayog member VK Paul, and health ministry officials, likely to be held this week, they said.
The government has been buying Covishield at ₹157.50 per dose and Covaxin at ₹225.75.
Preparations are in full swing to roll out ZyCoV-D as the first few batches of the vaccines have been cleared by the government’s Central Drug Laboratory at Kasauli.
Zydus Cadila has also started training vaccinators to administer the vaccine, which is given using a needle-free applicator.
The Indian drug regulator had on August 20 given emergency use authorisation (EUA) to the three-dose ZyCoV-D to be administered to people 12 years and above.
The government is expected to earmark a major chunk of the vaccine for children.
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) is likely to meet on Monday to decide on the guidelines on vaccinating children with underlying medical conditions, sources said.
The Covid-19 working group, which advises the government on vaccines, is of the view that in the first phase only children with underlying medical conditions should be vaccinated first.
Healthy kids are unlikely to get jabs this year as government experts are of the view that there is no need for every child to be vaccinated to attend school.
Zydus developed ZyCoV-D with the support of the department of biotechnology (DBT) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
