Mumbai-based Gem Tours & Travel has announced a coronavirus vaccine tourism package for clients who wish to travel to the US for the vaccine shot.

As the news of the vaccine for the novel coronavirus broke out in the United States, Mumbai-based Gem Tours & Travel announced a new coronavirus vaccine tourism package to the United States of America for clients to get a shot of the new vaccine announced.

The tour announced is not for normal people but for high net worth individuals (HNI) who can afford it easily. The package will act as a travel operator and will provide the necessary services to reach the US and get the shot of the vaccine once it is available in the market.

The package announced read, “Be among the first to get Corona Vaccine: As soon as Pfizer Vaccine is officially published to sell America (tentative date 11 December), v r ready to get it done for select few VVIP clients.”

Priced at Rs. 1,74,999, the package includes Mumbai-New York- Mumbai airfare and stay of the person for three-night and four days stay along with a vaccine shot. While the Pfizer vaccine concluded phase-3 trials of the vaccine with results showing 95 percent effective against the COVID-19.

Vaccine tourism program

The company was founded in 1983 by Jyotin Doshi who is the present chairman of the company. The company operates tours through its offices in Pune, Gujarat, Chennai, Pune, and Bengaluru. At present, it operates tours to over 45 countries across six continents.

This vaccine package announced by the company comes after the announcement of the US-based vaccine programs by pharma major Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech. Pfizer has already applied for the emergency use of its COVID vaccine.

The vaccine program packages are being booked on a first come first serve basis without the need to deposit any advance for the trip. The company is registering its clients with details like name, e-mail id, mobile number, age, and a passport-sized photograph. 

“Everything we will arrange will be within the laws of the United States of America. We will only process your requirements. Right now, no time frame can be committed. We are keeping the list ready so as and when America allows foreigners to come and take the vaccine, we should not waste time because every life matters to their family members,” the firm said to Livemint.

Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine 

The coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford university interim data shows that the vaccine provides 70 percent protection against the virus. However, researchers say that the efficacy rate can go as high as 90 percent.

“It can only happen if extraordinary support is provided. We pretty well have the whole institute in Oxford working on this vaccine,” said Adrian Hill, Director of Oxford University’s Jenner Institute which developed the shot.

Oxford vaccine can be a blessing for developing countries like India as it is cheaper and being produced in Serum institute in the country. Other vaccines have a minimum temperature requirement to be stored but this vaccine can be stored in a normal refrigerator. 

Price fight

Russian-made vaccine Sputnik-V has started its trials in India. Now with many vaccines ready to hit the market, Russia assured that their vaccine will be cheaper than others. However, there is still no data available that could tell the effectiveness of the vaccine.

US-developed vaccines announced that their product is ready to hit the markets and revealed their prizes. Pfizer announced that its product will carry a price tag of $19.50. While the Moderna vaccine announced the prize to be between $25-37.

A person who will take the vaccine needs at least two shots of the vaccine and therefore the prize of Pfizer will go up to $39 and Moderna will cost between $50-74.