Serum Insititute chief Adar Poonwalla to get 'Y-category' security cover
New Delhi/IBNS: Pune-based Serum Institute of India's chief Adar Poonawalla will be provided with 'Y-category' security across the country, media reports said.
The order was issued by the Union Home Ministry following an assessment of the threats received by Poonawalla.
"Y category" security means he will be covered by 11 security personnel, out of which one or two of them will be commandos and the rest policemen.
Serum Institute came under heavy criticism after it announced the pricing of its Covishield vaccine to the states for the 18 to 45 age group at Rs. 400 a shot, which is way above the Rs.150 price offered to the Centre.
The revised pricing has provoked anger among many and opposition leaders as well as social media users have demanded "One vaccine one price".
On Wednesday, the Serum Institute announced a 25 per cent reduction in price for the states and will now offer Covishiled at Rs. 300 instead of Rs. 400.
"As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of @SerumInstIndia, 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," Poonawalla tweeted.
As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of @SerumInstIndia, 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.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) April 28, 2021
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