Indigenously-developed needle-free Zydus Cadila’s COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D will be introduced in the nationwide COVID vaccination programme, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The officials said that the needle-free regimen jab would have a differential pricing than the other vaccines being used in the world’s largest vaccination drive.
The officials reasoned that since the jab is three-dose regimen, it will be priced differently than other vaccines. Sources said that the talks are being held with the manufacturer to make the vaccine more affordable for the public who choose to take the shots in private facilities.
“As far as the price of the vaccine at which it will be procured is concerned, we are in conversations with the manufacturer. Since it is a three-dose vaccine and comes with a needle-less delivery system, it would have a differential pricing than the existing vaccines that are being used in the Covid vaccination programme,” he said. It will be introduced in the COVID-19 vaccination drive very shortly,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told reporters in a press conference.
ZyCoV-D, manufactured by Gujarat-based health major Zydus Cadila, is the first vaccine in the country cleared for children aged between 12 and 18 years and population beyond that. It received the Emergency Use Authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and will be administered to the eligible population.
Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are being used in the vaccination drive which started on January 16 to only those above 18 years.