Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin at Rs 150 not sustainable: Bharat Biotech

Higher price in private market required to offset part of the costs, argues firm

Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech said on Tuesday that the Indian government’s procurement price of Rs 150 a dose for the Covid-19 vaccine was “non-competitive” and “not sustainable in the long run”. Hence, it said, a higher price in the private market was required to “offset part of the costs”.

The company’s remarks came amid questions over the differential pricing strategy followed by vaccine manufacturers for supplies to the government and private sector.

“If we keep supplying (Covaxin) at Rs 150 per dose, then we will no longer be a ‘healthy’ organisation,” a senior executive of Bharat Biotech told Business Standard.

The company has