ZyCov-D: Zydus Cadila’s needle-free COVID-19 vaccination would cost Rs 1,128 per dose

According to the pricing breakdown provided by the firm, the three-dose needle-free COVID-19 vaccine from zydus Cadila would cost the Centre Rs 1,128. On November 8, the pharma company said that it had acquired a purchase order from the Union government to deliver one crore doses of ZyCoV-D at a cost of Rs 265 per dosage, excluding jet applicator and GST.

“Zydus Cadila has obtained an order from the Government of India to provide one crore doses of ZyCoV-D, the world’s first Plasmid DNA Vaccine, for Rs 265 per dosage and the needle-free applicator at Rs 93 per dose, excluding GST,” the pharma business said in a regulatory filing.

According to the price break up, a single dose of the vaccine will be made available to the Centre at Rs 376 which includes the cost of the jet applicator and GST, taking the price of 3-dose jab to Rs 1,128.

The vaccine maker said that the pricing has been decided in consultation with the Centre.

The vaccine will be administered using a needle-free applicator, called PharmaJet, instead of traditional syringes.

The PharmaJet is a needle-free applicator to ensure painless intradermal vaccine delivery which also leads to a significant reduction in any kind of major side effects.

ZyCoV-D is the first DNA plasmid vaccine in the world for human use, developed indigenously by the company against the COVID-19 virus, Zydus Cadila said.

The firm said that ZyCov-D has shown good stability at temperatures of around 25 degrees for at least three months.

ZyCoV-D is the first vaccine cleared by India’s drug regulator for inoculation of those aged 12 years and above.

The three doses of ZyCoV-D, are to be administered 28 days apart. The vaccine was given emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Indian drug regulator on August 20.