The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved COVID vaccine Covishield and Covaxin for emergency use in the country. The vaccines are being hailed as a win for the country’s medical development as both of them have indigenous roots. Covaxin, developed and produced by Bharat Biotech is India’s premier solution for COVID-19 whereas, Covishield is developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been manufactured and tested by Serum Institute of India (SII).
However, for multiple reasons, the DCGI has decided to restrict the use of these vaccines which means it will not be given to everyone in the country.
Here is all you need to know about both the vaccines:
Covishield
Method of development-
Covishield uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector-based on a weakened version of a common cold virus, the DCGI said in a statement. It further said that this virus causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein.
Trial and Efficacy-
Serum Institute submitted data of phase 1 clinical trial conducted over 23,745 overseas participants showing an overall result of 70.42 efficacy. "In phase two and three, which were conducted in India, 1,600 participants took part and the results were comparable to that of the first the phase of the trial," the DCGI said in a press release.
Cost-
The cost of one dose of Covishield is expected to range around Rs400 as said by Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla.
Covaxin
Method of development-
Developed by Bharat Biotech, Covaxin is India’s first vaccine against Covid-19. Bharat Biotech has developed this vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology.
Trial and Efficacy-
The phase one and two trials tested on 800 participants and it also conducted several animal trials. Its third trial is going on and a total of 22,500 participants took part in it. According to DCGI, Covaxin has been found effective and safe.
Cost-
The frontline workers across the country will get the coronavirus vaccine free of cost since it will be sold restrictedly. Meanwhile, it may cost up to Rs.100 for the general public but no final comment has been made on that.
