Covid Vaccine: Which is Better - Covaxin or Covishield?

The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive has already started in India. Many people are still not aware of the two vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield. 

The second phase started on March 1, in which people over the age of 60 and those above 45 with associated comorbidities can take the life-boosts shots. 

Currently, the government is not allowing people to decide which vaccine they want to take, but the result of first phase suggests that both the vaccines are safe and effective. 

 We have compiled all the data to give you a proper understanding of the formulation and other details about the vaccine you must get to prevent from Coronavirus.  

Developer 

Covaxin has been developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). 

Covishield has been developed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). 

Type of Vaccine 

Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine, which has been prepared on a tried and tested platform of dead viruses. 

This vaccine is developed with Whole-Virion Inactivated Vero Cell-derived technology. They contain inactivated viruses, which cannot infect a person but still can teach the immune system to prepare a defense mechanism against the active virus. 

These conventional vaccines have been in use for decades now. There are vaccines for some other diseases as well, which are made using the same technology. These diseases are – 

• Seasonal influenza

• Rabies

• Polio

• Pertussis, and

• Japanese encephalitis

Covishield has been prepared using the viral vector platform, which is a different technology. 

A chimpanzee adenovirus – ChAdOx1 – has been modified to carry the COVID-19 spike protein into the cells of humans. This cold virus is incapable of infecting the receiver but can very well teach the immune system to prepare a mechanism against such viruses. 

The same technology is used to prepare vaccines for viruses like Ebola. 

Doses 

There is no difference between the two vaccines in terms of dosage. Both of them follow a two-dose regimen. 

Storage Guidelines 

Both Covishield and Covaxin can be stored at 2-8 degrees, a household refrigerator temperature. This makes both the vaccines most suited for Indian conditions as most of the vaccines are kept at the same temperature range. This also makes the transportation and storage of both vaccines easier. 

Efficiency 

Both the vaccines have shown more than satisfactory results ever since the injection started in India. 

The effectiveness of the Covishield vaccine is nearly 90% as per the global reports and Covaxin’s 81% according to interim 3rd phase trial results. 

Covishield, on the other hand, has shown a very satisfactory efficacy of 62 percent. 

Consent 

Covaxin has been granted a restricted-use authorization in clinical trial mode. In contrast, Covishield has been allowed for restricted use in emergencies that can potentially prevent coronavirus infection in people aged 18 years and above. 

However, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has not given a market use authorization clearance to any of the vaccines. 

Price of the vaccines 

Both the vaccines are being inoculated free of cost at government health set-ups. The government has put a price capping of Rs 250 per dose for private hospitals and clinics. 

Age of beneficiaries 

Covishield has been approved for people aged 18 years and above, while Covaxin can be given to people aged 12 years and above. There, however, isn’t any assurance if the vaccine can be given to children and pregnant women.