COVAXIN VS COVISHIELD WHICH IS BEST ?
While the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has surely reminded us of the hard times faced during the first wave in 2020, we still have an upper hand in the fight against covid-19, thanks to the nationwide vaccination drive.
Currently, the Indian Government has approved two vaccines namely Covishield and Covaxin to fight COVID-19. But if you are still in doubt about these vaccines or are wondering which one is better among the two, then here is a quick read to help you out and answer all your queries.
WHY SHOULD YOU GET VACCINATED ?
Getting vaccinated is undoubtedly one of the simple yet effective ways to fight the pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccines produce the protection against the disease as they develop an immune response to the SARS-COV2 virus Getting vaccinated may also protect the people around you , becuase if you are protected from getting infected and from disease you are less likely to infect someone else
Moreover, getting COVID vaccination is known to reduce the severity of the infection (due to the presence of antibodies) and also lowers the chances of getting hospitalized due to the COVID-19 infection.
VACCINES IN INDIA FOR COVID 19
As most of you might be aware, Covishield and Covaxin are the two vaccines approved by the Government of India for COVID-19. However, the 3rd vaccine by Russia, known as Sputnik V, has recently been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). The vaccine might take some time (maybe next quarter) to be rolled out after the supplies are ramped up.
Covishield is developed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca which is manufactured by Serum Institute of India Pune which is world’s largest vaccine manufacturer whereas Covaxin is manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech Limited in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Vaccine Type & Technology
Covishield remains to be the popular choice , used in maximum countries Covaxin, on the other hand , is now considered to be one of the most effective and tolerant vaccines against mutant strains But, do the differences make one better than the other
WORKING OF COVAXIN
Covaxin(BBV152) uses inactivatedvirus approach. When you get Covaxin, you are basically getting injected with actual SARS-COV-2 virus particles which are inactivated. An inactivated virus won’t cause aninfection in your body, it’s basicallypowerless. But it will do one thing-help our body make SARS-coV2 specific antibodies.
The mechanism of an inactivated virusis simple-When Covaxin is administered, the T-cells and B-cells
detect the inactivated virus particles.
T-cells are responsible for producing memory T-cells that remember the virus and B-cells are responsible for producing virus specific antibodies. Basically preparing our body for future infection.
WORKING OF COVISHILELD
When you get Covishield, you don’t get injected with actual SARS-COV-2 virus but you instead get injected with an adenovirus that infects Chimpanzee .Adeno virus which is used in covishield vaccine isspecific strain of virus that causes Cold in chimpanzees.
Bascially the spike protien of the Achimpanzee adenovirus ChAdOx1 has been modified to enable it to carry the COVID 19 spike protein into the cells of humans Well, this cold virus is basically incapable of infecting the receiverbut can very well teach the immune system to prepare a mechanism against such viruses.
DOSAGE
Both the vaccines work as two dose vaccines , administered weeks apart. They are Injected Intramuscularly , administered in theupper arm muscles. WhileCovaxin’s second dose needsto be given 4-6 weeks after the first one, while Covishield’s second dose could be delayed, i.e. given 6 8 weeks after But if you take covisheild after 6-8 weeks then efficacy of the vaccine increases
SIDE EFFECTS
Much like other vaccines in the offering, both Covaxin and Covishield carry some minor sideeffects Most side effects recorded with the vaccines are said to be on the milder sid ePain at the injection site , tenderness, fever, chills, nausea .Headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, tremors could also be seen in a few cases
So, which vaccine should you take?
Take any vaccine which is available. No nakhra. Both vaccineis good. The mechanism of vaccines may be different but they serve the same goal, minimising the chances of hospitallisation and death.
And the good news is that both Covishielcd and Covaxin are effective against B.1.617 (double mutant) variant. So go take the vaccine. Don’t believe those whatsapp forward rumours
Also ,experts have also remarked that vaccination, with any jab that’s available to us , is the only way of defeating and preventing the spread of new mutant strains and variants There for, people should get jabbed as and when they can
