Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla announced reduction in COVID-19 vaccine price for states to Rs 300/dose from Rs 400.
"As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of Serum Institute of India, I hereby reduce the price to the states from Rs.400 to Rs.300 per dose, effective immediately; this will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives," Mr Poonawalla wrote in his tweet.
The higher prices of vaccines for states and private hospitals have provoked anger and debate since Serum made the announcement weeks ago.
From May 1, as vaccinations open to all adults, states and private entities can buy doses directly from manufacturers under the Centre's liberalized policy to tackle the explosion of Covid cases.
State governments and private hospitals can order up to 50 per cent of Serum's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin to inoculate the younger population, while the centre will buy the other half to continue vaccinating those above 45 free of cost. Serum said it would continue to provide vaccines to the centre at ₹ 150 a shot.