Subscribe

0

Advertisment
News Mind and Body

Covaxin, Covishield, Sputnik V: How Are These COVID-19 Vaccines Different?

A look at the COVID-19 vaccines in India side-by-side and how they are different from each other.

author-image
Tanvi Akhauri
New Update
COVID booster shots, COVID-19 Vaccine And Menstruation, Covishield booster shot, Bharat Biotech Pune plant, COVID vaccination in diabetes, covid-19 vaccines in india, Shouldn’t Teachers Get COVID Vaccine, , COVID vaccination mandatory, Johnson showed 66 per cent effective ,Covaxin Effectiveness, Pregnant women COVID-19 vaccine, first vaccination drive January 16

COVID-19 vaccines in India: As cases mount amid a deadly second wave of coronavirus in India, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on April 12 gave a nod to the emergency use of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. The vaccine, developed in Moscow, will join Covaxin and Covishield vaccines that are already being administered as part of India's mass vaccination drive that began January 16, 2021.

Advertisment

As per latest data on April 14, India had completed vaccinations for a total of 1,38,77,664 people, accounting for just over 1 percent of the total population. The centre on Tuesday fast-tracked the approval for procurement and use of authorised foreign vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Sputnik V is among the top vaccines - alongside Pfizer and Moderna - to have shown the highest effective rates. That said, all COVID-19 vaccines in India are recommended for use by medical experts who have advised against making competitive comparisons between their respective efficacies and side effects.

Here's how the three COVID-19 vaccines in India are different:

Parameter/Vaccine Covishield Covaxin Sputnik V
Manufacturer Serum Institute of India

(developed by University of Oxford)

 Bharat Biotech Dr Reddy's

(developed by Gamaleya Institute)
Efficacy 70-90 percent 81 percent 91.6 percent
Doses Two Two Two
Interval between doses 60-90 days 28 days 21 days
How it works Weakened version of adenovirus (virus causing common cold) taken from chimpanzees and introduced to human body, which begins producing antibodies against the virus. Made using inactivated/dead coronavirus, introduced to the body, which then develops antibodies Adenoviruses combined with SARS-CoV-2 (virus causing COVID-19) introduced to the body, which then begins developing immunity against the virus.
Side effects Nausea, mild fever, headache, chills noted as "common" side effects by SII;

Dizziness, allergy, rashes noted as "uncommon" effects

 Side effects similar to Covishield;

"remote chances" of allergies like rashes, swelling

 No allergies or serious side effects noted

India has overtaken Brazil to become the country with the second-highest total coronavirus cases (1,38,73,825) in the world, preceded only by the United States (3,13,69,400). On Wednesday, India logged 1,84,372 cases, its highest single-day rise since the pandemic began in 2020.

States leading the rise in daily tally are Maharashtra and Delhi, followed by Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Advertisment

Our COVID-19 updates and coverage here.

Covaxin Covishield sputnik v covid-19 vaccines india
Advertisment