CHEARS

With new covid strains coming up, vaccination can only help save lives. The third phase of the covid-19 vaccination drive has begun in India. Now people in the 18-45 age group bracket can also be vaccinated along with 45 + and the elderly. The second phase began from March 1 in which people over the age of 60 and those above 45 with comorbidities can take the vaccine shots with subsequent opening of vaccination drive for the people aged above 45. The third phase where people aged 18-45 can take vaccine shots has begun from May 1. But there is still confusion and lack of awareness about the two vaccines in India - COVISHIELD AND COVAXIN. Currently, there is no provision provided by the government which enables people to choose the vaccine. But both are safe as well as effective.

So here is a detailed comparison between the two vaccines:

 

MANUFACTURER/DEVELOPER

Covaxin has been developed by Bharat biotech International limited in association with the Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute Of Virology (NIV). Whereas Covishield has been developed by Oxford- AstraZeneca which is being manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

DOSAGE

The gap between two shots of Covaxin is between 4 to 6 weeks and on the other hand, the gap between the two doses of Covishield has been increased from 4-6 weeks to 12-16 weeks.

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

Both the vaccine should be stored at 2 to 8 degrees centigrade which makes them easy to store and transport.

EFFICACY

The two vaccines have shown satisfactory results since their inoculation started from January 16. The efficacy of Covaxin is 70 to 90%. The efficacy of Covishield is 90%. Both the vaccines are also effective against the mutated UK, South Africa and Brazil virus.

PRICE

The price of the Covishield vaccine ranges from ₹700-900 and for Covaxin, it ranges from ₹1250 - 1500.

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects of both the vaccines are primarily the same - experiencing pain at the site of inoculation, mild fever, headache or aur joint pains which could last for a day or two.

The Russian vaccine - SPUTNIK V has also arrived in India and its administration has also been started. In India, this vaccine will be manufactured by Dr Reddy Laboratories and will manufacture 850 million doses this year. This will be the third vaccine administered against the Covid- 19 Virus.

The risk of contracting the virus after 2 doses of the vaccinations is very less. A study has found 0.03% of people caught COVID after the second dose of Covishield and 0.04% tested positive after the second dose of Covaxin. The vaccine was the precise reason why many elderly did not get covid in this deadly Covid second wave. Till now 19.4 crore doses of vaccination have been given in India. Around 3.1 % of the total population of India has been fully vaccinated.