Serum, Bharat Biotech to get suppliers' credit for 300 mn Covid-19 doses

Govt okays Rs 4,500 cr upfront payment for 300 mn doses

Vaccine manufacturers Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech will together get Rs 4,500 crore from the Centre as suppliers’ credit, sources in the know said. This will be an upfront payment for the vaccine doses that these two companies will supply to the government. At Rs 150 per dose, excluding taxes, this roughly works out to be 300 million doses.

Of the total amount, SII will get Rs 3,000 crore, while Bharat Biotech will get around Rs 1,500 crore, multiple sources confirmed. Both SII and Bharat Biotech refused to comment.

The Department of Expenditure has agreed to relax the General