As India began the second phase of the vaccination drive on 1 March, everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities will be getting the COVID-19 vaccine. In the first month of 2021, the Indian government had approved two vaccines - Covaxin developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford-AstraZeneca stable being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
In this article, we will talk about the two vaccines and their mechanisms.
Type: Covishield is based on the viral vector platform, that is, the vector has been modified to carry the coronavirus spike protein into human cells. Covaxin is based on an inactivated whole SARS-CoV-2 virion, that is, the virus's disease-producing capacity is inactivated.
Dosage: Both Covishield and Covaxin have to be administered in two doses. According to the Union Health Ministry, the administration of the second dose of Covid-19 vaccination to those who have completed 28 days after receiving the first dose.
Vaccine application: Both Covishield and Covaxin are intramuscular injections.
Age group: Covaxin is approved for people aged 18 years and above and Covishield vaccine has been approved for those 12 years and above. There has been no information available whether children and pregnant women can be given the vaccines.
Efficacy: Covaxin at two full doses has been shown to have 62 per cent efficacy in phase-3 clinical trials. Covishield is yet to publish efficacy data from its phase-3 trials.
Storage: Covishield and Covaxin vaccines can be stored at 2-8 degrees C (which is as the same as that of household refrigerator temperature). Health experts link this property of the vaccines to it being suitable for India as most vaccines commonly used in the country are kept at this temperature range.
Pricing: 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.
The government aims to vaccinate 30 crore people by July and include frontline health workers, essential duty personnel and vulnerable sections of the population. The first batch of 3 crore people will be given the shots of Covid-19 vaccines by March. Vaccination will be done through registration on Co-WIN, the digital platform developed by the government agencies to facilitate and monitor the drive.
The Central government announced that around 10,000 private hospitals, more than 600 govt hospitals and other private hospitals under the State Government Health Insurance Schemes are set to participate as COVID-19 vaccination centres.
According to reports, beneficiaries have not been given the option to choose the vaccine currently.