New Delhi: Corbevax, the Covid-19 vaccine used for children aged 12 to 14 years, is being sold to the government at only ₹145 per dose, Biological E said on Wednesday even as the country kick-started the vaccination drive for this age group. In private market, the vaccine will cost ₹800 before taxes, Mahima Datla, managing director of Biological E, said at a press conference. After GST and administering charges, it will cost ₹990, she said.
“Our price to the government programme is ₹145, the lowest in the country and possibly the world,” Datla said. “It’s something we take great pride in that we were able to make a difference. We are saving the exchequer close to ₹1,500 crore just by our supplies alone.” India started vaccinating children aged between 12 to 14 on Wednesday. Corbevax is the only vaccine approved for this age group. India has also started offering booster dose to all people aged 60 and above.
“Today is an important day in India’s efforts to vaccinate our citizens,” PM Narendra Modi tweeted. “Now onwards, youngsters in the 12-14 age group are eligible for vaccines and all those above 60 are eligible for precaution doses. I urge people in these age groups to get vaccinated.”
On the first day, more than 2 lakh (260,136) adolescents were administered the first dose of the vaccine. More than 2.15 crore (21,544,283) precaution doses for the identified categories of beneficiaries (healthcare workers, frontline workers and those over 60 years) for vaccination were administered so far.
Biological E said it plans to make 100 million doses of Corbevax per month. The vaccine will be available for both children and adults in the private market soon, it said. “However, the focus right now is to ensure that the vulnerable between 12 to 15 years immediately get vaccines,” Datla said.
The Hyderabad-based company also said it has completed trials for children aged 5-12 year and submitted interim results to the drug regulator. It is expecting additional reviews with experts soon and is confident of receiving emergency use authorisation (EUA) for this age group as well.
In clinical trials for higher age groups, Corbevax showed an excellent safety profile with minimal reactogenicity as there were no grade 3 or serious adverse events seen in 3,500 participants, the company said.
In long-term monitoring also, it has not seen any severe events. “When I compare this to all other vaccines. I am very proud that this is the safest vaccine,” said Vikram Paradkar, executive vice-president at Biological E.
He said a combination of protein subunit vaccine as well as an adjuvant system seem to neutralise the variants of concerns so far better than other vaccines.
