The COVID-19 vaccination campaign has already started in India, and many people are still unaware of how the two vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield – are different from each other.
The third phase began on April 1, during which people over the age of 18 can take life-saving photos.
Currently, the government has not allowed people to decide which vaccine they want to receive, but the results of the first phase clearly suggest that the two vaccines inoculated in India are safe and effective.
Covaxin vs Covishield – Which one is better?
Well, we’ve compiled all the information to give you a better understanding of the formulation and all of the other details about the vaccine you are going to receive to stay coronavirus free. Looked:
Developer
Covaxin was developed by Bharat Biotech International Ltd, based in Hyderabad, in connection with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Covishield was developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
Vaccine type
Covaxin is an inactivated viral vaccine. This vaccine is developed with technology derived from inactivated whole virion Vero cells. They contain inactivated viruses, which cannot infect a person but can still train the immune system to prepare a defense mechanism against the active virus.
These regular vaccines have been in use for decades. There are also vaccines for other diseases that are made using the same technology. These diseases are –
- Seasonal flu
- Rage
- Polio
- whooping cough, and
- Japanese encephalitis
Covishield was prepared using the Viral Vector Platform which is a completely different technology.
A chimpanzee adenovirus – ChAdOx1 – has been modified to allow it to transport the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells. Well, this cold virus is basically incapable of infecting the receptor but can train the immune system very well to prepare a mechanism against such viruses.
The exact technology has been used to prepare vaccines against viruses like Ebola.
Dosage
Concerning to dosage, there is no difference between the two vaccines. Both are administered as 0.5 ml in the upper arm area.
Also Read: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe? This Is What The Doctors Say
But, the dosing schedule for the two vaccines varies however. The second dose of Covaxin is scheduled 4 to 6 weeks after the first dose, while for Covishield vaccines it is 84 days or 12 to 16 weeks after the first dose.
Storage guidelines
Covishield and Covaxin can be stored at 2-8 ° C, which is the temperature in a home refrigerator. This makes the two vaccines the most suitable for Indian conditions, as most of the vaccines here are kept in the same temperature range.
It also makes it easier to transport and store the two vaccines.
Efficiency
Both vaccines have given more than satisfactory results since the start of inoculation in India.
The efficacy of the Covishield vaccine is nearly 90% according to global reports and 81% for Covaxin according to the interim results of the 3rd phase trial.
Side effects
After being vaccinated, you may feel pain at the injection site. Some people may also experience side effects such as headache, joint pain, and may experience fever. These side effects don’t persist for long and usually go away within a day or two.
Approvals
Covaxin has currently obtained approval for confined emergency use, while Covishield has been cleared for confined use in emergency situations that can potentially prevent coronavirus infection in people aged 18 and over.
Covaxin has started its clinical trial in children over 2 years old.
However, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has not given market authorization for any of the vaccines so far.
Vaccine prices
Both vaccines are inoculated free of charge at government health facilities. However, at the private hospital, the cost of vaccines varies. So, you should always contact the hospitals to find out the exact cost of the vaccine.
Administration mode
Covaxin and Covishield are both intramuscular vaccines.
Age of beneficiaries
Covishield and Covaxin have been accepted for people aged 18 and over, however, there is no assurance that the vaccine can be given to children and pregnant women.
