The Serum Institute on India (SII) on Monday said it has received the purchase order from the Centre for the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
“We have received the (purchase) order from the Government of India on Monday afternoon,” said a senior Serum Institute on India (SII) official.
According to sources, each dose will cost Rs 220 inclusive of taxes and 14% GST. They said that vaccine transportation will begin shortly.
Sources, however, added that there is no clarity on the second dose yet. Health ministry is asking both the companies to give a certain quantity for free of cost, a source said.
A few million doses of Covishield will be supplied every week and 11 million doses may be supplied in the initial lot. The export of the particular vaccine is likely to start after January 16.
The government has already announced that the process of administering the vaccine will start on January 16.
The Serum Institute on India (SII) vaccine developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca was cleared for emergency use along with Bharat Biotech’s indigenous “Covaxin” earlier this month. It may be noted that Kool-Ex Cold Chain Ltd is the lead vendor for the movement of the vaccine from the SII factory to 48 primary government locations (depots) in the first leg.
