Indian vaccine: Covaxin vs Covishield

Since the beginning of India’s largest vaccination, it has both been a sigh of relief and a spark that has led to various speculations around the vaccine amongst people. While both the vaccines had been deemed safe for use, a certain amount of controversy kept revolving.

Vaccines work by training body’s natural defenses that is the immune system helping it recognize the virus and bacteria’s and fight them off. Once a person is vaccinated his/her body is well -prepared and ready to destroy the diseases and prevent it from falling sick.

Covaxin and Covishield are both made in India vaccines and the first to be emerged around the world in order to fight the deadly Coronavirus also known as COVID-19. So far, over 15 million high-risk people have been vaccinated prioritized by healthcare and frontline workers.

Let us learn more about these vaccines in detail.

COVAXIN:

COVAXIN is a government backed vaccine manufactured by the 24-year-old Bharat Biotech  setup in Hyderabad. As per data, Covaxin has an 81% efficacy to fight the corona virus and was given approval in January’2020 for emergency use.

While the approval of the vaccine was a milestone in our fight against the global pandemic it came up with a number of speculations which first rose when it was found that the 3^rd phase of the Covaxin trial was still in process bringing in intense concerns around the absence of the vaccine’s efficacy data. Later all the scepticism was backed by both the regulator & manufacturers deeming that the vaccine is very much safe to use and delivers a good response. Honourable prime minister Narendra Modi also took the Covaxin in order to put all the speculations & doubts at rest and to eliminate the hesitation around inoculation of the Bharat Biotech -Covaxin. 

As of today, Bharat Biotech has displayed the efficacy data of the Covaxin’s third phase.

Doses:

Two doses are given four weeks apart and vaccine can be stored at/between 2C to 8C

Side- effects of Covaxin:

A person may experience mild side-effects post the shot of Covaxin that includes:

• injection site pain, swelling, redness & itching
• stiffness in the upper arm
• body ache, headache
• fever, malaise, rashes, nausea, vomiting
• weakness & fatigue

There’s a very slim chance of allergic reactions signs of which include:

• difficulty in breathing
• welling of face and throat
• fast heart-beat
• rashes all over the body
• dizziness and weakness

COVISHIELD:

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine- Covishield is a locally manufactured vaccine by world’s largest vaccine manufacturers, Serum Institute of India (SII) that has an efficacy rate of 90% on full-dose.

Covishield has been backed by the efficacy data from countries like United Kingdom & Brazil deemed to be a highly effective vaccine. It was also in the race of the first vaccines to be given approval for safe use. One of the only speculations that came around Covishield was around the side effects of the vaccine as per reports from France.

Doses:

Vaccinated in two doses given between four & 12 weeks apart and can be stored safely at/between 2C to 8C.

Side- effects of Covishield:

A person may experience mild side-effects post the jabs of Covaxin that includes:

• swelling or bruising on injection site
• pain, muscle ache, headache
• chills, fever, nausea, fatigue, warmth, tenderness
• itching, bruising, lumps and malaise

There’s a rare chance of severe side-effects signs of which include:

• extremely high temperature (over 102 degrees Fahrenheit)
• coughing, breathing difficulties, nervous problems
• anaphylaxis is possible

Benefits of the vaccines-Covaxin & Covishield:

Currently vaccines are the safest way and the only hope against the deadly pandemic. So, here’s a few reasons why each one of us must get vaccinated:

• It will prevent you from contracting the virus by developing antibodies in response to your body without your having to become infected.
• It might prevent you from getting COVID-19, or, if you contract the virus, it is going to prevent you from serious illness/complications.
• It will prevent you and the ones around you, especially the ones at high-risk of severe illness from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.
• It is by far the best protection against the deadly coronavirus.

Conclusion:

As of now we do not have the choice to make a pick between the two vaccines considering the high demand and the government has reported both the vaccines to be effective & safe for use, though as per a few doctors & medical students “Covishield uses a chimpanzee viral vector that is incapable of replication, based on a weakened adenovirus that causes infections in chimpanzees. “On the other hand, Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine that uses the dead virus which causes the infection,” deeming Covaxin as a better choice..

Dr. Vishal Jadhav

hospertz@gmail.com

+91-9820833149 / 9867712705