All we need to know.
Covishield and Covaxin have been considered carefully and recommended by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). In the light of present situation, what matters is to get inoculated against the corona virus. So the best way forward is to register yourself on Co-win or Arogya sethu and get vaccinated , irrespective of covishield or covaxin.(PS : After taking the vaccination it is common for people to have mild side effects like - swelling at the site of injection, redness near injection site, body-ache, head-ache, feverish and weakness. Do not panic. Just follow the instructions given by the medical staff).Visit the following site to register yourselves for the vaccination https://www.cowin.gov.in/home
During a casual talk a question was raised as to - what was the major difference between Covishield and Covaxin? I felt that all of us should be aware of such things, hence this write up. For all your information, the third phase of vaccination drive for people above the age of 18 is starting from May 1, 2021. Gear yourselves up to register on Co-win or ArogyaSethu app from tomorrow i.e. 28 April 2021. I believe as younger generation of this world – we should be able to think rationally and understand the happenings around us in a more systematic manner. Nevertheless, stop completely believing in the WhatsApp forwards and start believing in your abilities to find things from valid sources.
Let us now understand the difference in detail. Covishield has been developed by Oxford- AstraZeneca and is being manufactured by Serum Institute of India. Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech with collaboration with ICMR and NIV (Indian Council of medical research and National Institute of Virology, Pune). They have been developed through traditional methods. Both have some similarities but many differences.
If we look at Covishield, a viral vector vaccine – in simple words it is made of weakened version of common cold virus of Chimpanzee called adenovirus. This version is modified to carry corona-virus spike protein into the human body. This cold virus is harmless, once inside the body it instructs the immune system to fight against any similar virus that enters the body. In one sentence the plan of action in the body is ready i.e. the anti-bodies, in case of novel coronavirus attack the body will fight it.
Whereas Covaxin is developed using inactivated virus approach. It contains the dead SARS-COV-2 virus particles. It helps the immune system to prepare defence mechanism against an active virus. Human body is made of cells covered with receptors, just like our TV dish and antenna. The mechanism of an in active virus is simple – When the vaccination is administered, the receptors in the body detects the inactive virus particles. The cells then produce the memory and remembers the virus. It then produces anti-bodies. Basically, prepares the body for future infection.
Doses:
There is no difference between the two vaccines in terms of dosage. Both of them follow two dosage regimes. There is slight difference in the interval of inoculations. Covaxin second dosage should be taken 28 days apart. Covishield second dosage should be taken 45 days apart.
Efficacy:
· Covaxin has demonstrated overall interim clinical efficacy of 78% and 100% efficacy against severe Covid-19 disease in Phase 3 of its trial.
· Covishield has an overall efficacy of 70%, but it can be over 90% after administration of full dosage.
Age Beneficiaries:
· Covishield has been approved for people aged above 18 years.
· Covaxin has been approved to be given to people above 12 years.
After reading this if you are still having questions on what vaccination to take. The simple answer to the question is both are equally safe. Both have been considered carefully and recommended by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). In the light of present situation, what matters is to get inoculated against the coronavirus. So the best way forward is to register yourself on Co-win or Arogya sethu and get vaccinated , irrespective of covishield or covaxin. Let’s follow covid appropriate behaviour and guard our near and dear ones as well as our country.
Hum Honge Kamiyab, Ek Din! Sending in lots of positivity and hope.