COVID-19: Covishield shot reduced from Rs.600 to Rs.225, announces Adar Poonawalla

"We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the Central Government, SII has decided to revise the price of COVISHIELD vaccine for private hospitals from Rs.600 to Rs 225 per dose. We once again commend this decision from the Centre to open precautionary dose to all 18+," Poonawalla tweeted.

The Indian government on Friday announced all adult citizens could take paid COVID-19 booster shots from private vaccination centres from Sunday.

"The administration of Precaution Dose to 18+ population through Private Vaccination Centres would start from 10th April (Sunday), 2022. All those who are more than 18 years of age & have completed 9 months after the administration of second dose, would be eligible for Precaution Dose. This facility would be available in all Private Vaccination Centres," read a government statement.

"So far, about 96% of all 15+ population in the country have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while about 83% of 15+ population has received both the doses," read the statement.

"More than 2.4 crore Precaution Doses have also been administered to Healthcare Workers, Frontline Workers and 60+ population group. 45% of 12 to 14 years age group have also received the first dose," the statement said.

India recorded 1,150 new COVID19 cases in the past 24 hours as the country's daily positivity rate now stands at 0.25 percent, as per data released by the Ministry of Health on Saturday.

India has been witnessing a dip in daily case count for the past several weeks.

Meanwhile, 83 people died due to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.