Covaxin vs Covishield: Govt to use these parameters to assess vaccines

The Ministry of Health said on Thursday (January 14) that the government will compare the coronavirus vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — on different parameters for recordkeeping purposes, ANI reported.

“Comparative factsheet for COVID-19 vaccines (Covishield and Covaxin) has been prepared for recordkeeping purposes. Comparison parameters will include vaccine platform, physical specifications, dosage, cold chain storage requirements, and minor adverse events following immunization,” said the Ministry.

The Ministry said the comparison parameters will include vaccine platform, physical specifications, dosage, cold chain storage requirements and minor adverse events following the immunization.

India has given emergency use authorization to two COVID-19 vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, both being manufactured in the country. While Covishield has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, Covaxin is an indigenous vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR.

Also read: Bharat Biotech flies out Covaxin, Day 1 of vaccination to have fewer centres

Around three lakh healthcare workers will be inoculated at 2,934 sites across the country on the first day of the massive nationwide vaccination drive on January 16, the ministry said.

After healthcare and frontline workers, the vaccines will be given to “those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities, numbering around 2.7 million,” the statement said. India is the world’s biggest vaccine maker. Its pharmaceutical industry has been freeing up capacity and pushing ahead with investments to help support a global vaccination campaign.

“The world is not only waiting for India’s vaccines but is also keenly watching how India handles the world’s biggest vaccination program,” PM Modi said in an annual address to Indians overseas.

Also read: After frontline vaccination, govt may allow Covishield, Covaxin export

India on Saturday reported single-day rise of 18,222 new Covid cases, pushing the country’s overall tally to 1.05 crore. Active Covid-19 cases in the country stand at 2,13,603 while 1,01,46,763 people have recovered from the disease, according to the Health Ministry.

India has the highest number of infections in the world after the United States.