A comparison of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines was approved by the DGCI to fight Covid-19 in India. India has approved two vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — for emergency use to fight Covid-19 pandemic in the country. The mass vaccination drive is likely to begin over the next few days. Covishield is the same vaccine that is being used in other countries including the UK. India’s approval for Covaxin is conditional as it is still “in the clinical trial mode”.
Here is a comparison between the two Covid-19 vaccines approved in India Diagnostic centre in Lucknow
Covishield has been developed by the Oxford University scientists in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. In India,the trials were undertaken by the Serum Institute of India, which is also manufacturing the Covishield vaccine for vaccination drive.Now government has started vaccination to the people across the county and many people got vaccinated as well.
The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination has kicked off to a good start. After healthcare workers, the country's senior citizens and select people over 45, with comorbidities are being prioritized to get doses of Covaxin and Covishield.
Covishield vaccine has been developed by using the virus — adenovirus — that causes common cold infections among chimpanzees. Its genetic material is same as that of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Spike protein is the part of SARS-CoV-2 using which the virus enters a human body cell. Covishield vaccine has been developed by using a weakened version of the adenovirus.
Covaxin vaccine has been developed using dead coronavirus — called “inactivated” vaccine in medical language. Under inactivated state, the virus is not capable of infecting people or replicating on its own inside the body of a person after being injected. But a shot of the Covishield vaccine has been developed by using the virus — adenovirus — that causes common cold infections among chimpanzees. Its genetic material is same as that of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Spike protein is the part of SARS-CoV-2 using which the virus enters a human body cell. Covishield vaccine has been developed by using a weakened version of the adenovirus.
Covaxin vaccine has been developed using dead coronavirus — called “inactivated” vaccine in medical language. Under inactivated state, the virus is not capable of infecting people or replicating on its own inside the body of a person after being injected. But a shot of the vaccine prepares the immunity system to recognise the actual virus and fight it if and when infection happens.
It is very important for all of us to get vaccinated whenever we get call, following are some important points that we must be aware of:
- In the backdrop of reports questioning safety of the vaccines, the DCGI has said both Covishield and Covaxin are safe Covid-19 vaccines.
- Efficiency of Covishield has been pegged at good percentage that it can be taken by people. This efficacy rate is far below than the vaccines developed by Pfizer-NBiotech and Moderna, but it is above the qualifying efficacy benchmark of 50 per cent set by several countries
- Both Covishield and Covaxin are two-dose Covid-19 vaccines.
- Both Covishield and Covaxin vaccines are easy to store as they require to be kept at 2-8 degree Celsius. Most vaccines commonly used in India are kept at this temperature range. This makes transport and local storage of both Covid-19 vaccines safe and easy for all parts of the country.
- The vaccines are being administered free of cost at government hospitals and health centres while Rs 250 will be charged for it at private health facilities.
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