NEW DELHI : The government is working out a mechanism to monitor the prices of anti-Covid vaccines in the open market once the jabs are available for people above 18 years of age from May 1. While vaccine companies are free to price the vaccines supplied in the open market, hospitals and other vaccine providers are likely to charge an additional fee over it.
The government plans to come out with a mechanism to keep a check on these prices even as prices will be initially governed by market dynamics, officials said.
From May 1, as the new Covid-19 vaccination policy gets rolled out, private hospitals, states and corporate houses will be able to procure directly from manufacturers at a pre-fixed price for vaccination of those above 18 outside the central programme. However, vaccination will continue to be given free of cost to health and frontline workers and those above 45 years of age at government vaccination centres.
Meanwhile, Biological E has completed phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for its locally developed Covid-19 vaccine candidate and is likely to start phase 3 very soon. The vaccine is expected to enter the market by August.
