"Most Affordable": Biological E Chief On Kids' Vaccine Corbevax

Calling Corbevax the "most affordable" vaccine, Mahima Datla told NDTV today that the firm "needed to keep affordability at the centre of this"

Mahima Datla, the MD of Biological E -- whose vaccine Corbevax was launched today for 12-to 14-year-olds in the country -- today indicated that the affordability of her vaccine was one of the key goals they worked for. The Corbevax has been made available to the government at a cost of Rs 145 and Rs 10 as taxes -- the lowest in the world. Calling it the "most affordable" vaccine, Ms Datla told NDTV today that the firm "needed to keep affordability at the centre of this".

The vaccine will cost Rs 990 in the market, inclusive of taxes.

"I have been in numerous occasions when the country's, government's or health budget is stressed... so it was our responsibility to make this affordable," she said. The 80 crore doses the government will get from Biolegical E will save the exchequer Rs 1,500 crore, she added.

Taking of the sheer upscale needed to bring down the cost to this level, she said vaccines involve a huge amount of fixed cost.