Bharat Biotech on Thursday reduced by Rs 200 the price at which it will sell each dose of Covaxin, the Covid-19 vaccine, to the states.

The new price for each Covaxin dose will be Rs 400 instead of the Rs 600 announced earlier. The price for private hospitals will be Rs 1,200 a dose.

The price cut followed widespread criticism as Bharat Biotech had sold Covaxin to the central government at Rs 150 per dose.

The announcement came a day after the Serum Institute of India reduced the price of its Covid vaccine, Covishield, to Rs 300 per dose from the earlier Rs 400 for state governments.

“Recognising the enormous challenges in the public healthcare system, we have made Covaxin available to state governments at a price of 400/ dose,” Bharat Biotech said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday insisted on free vaccines.

The Congress is pressing the central government to ensure it funds the drive instead of burdening the cash-strapped states.