Just hours after announcing the new caped price of Covishield vaccine for state Pune-based Serum Institute chief Adar Poonawalla will be given “Y category†security across the country informed Union Home Ministry. The Union Home Ministry issued orders regarding this today after conducting a detailed threat assessment, sources said.
“Y category” security involves the presence of 11 security personnel – one or two of them commandos and the rest policemen.
Earlier today Adar Poonawalla said that “As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of Serum Institute 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 livesâ€.
Serum Institute has been criticized after it announced the pricing of its Covishield vaccine to the states for the 18 to 45 age group Rs 400 a shot, way above the Rs 150 price offered to the Centre. The pricing has provoked anger and debate, with opposition leaders and many on social media demanding ‘One vaccine one price’.