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Difference Between Covaxin and Covishield

Difference Between Covaxin and Covishield

The main difference between covaxin and covishield is that covaxin is an inactivated virus vaccine, which means it uses a weakened or inactive form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to trigger an immune response. On the other hand, covishield is a viral vector vaccine, which means it uses a modified version of a different virus (the adenovirus) to deliver instructions to cells to build immunity against COVID-19.

Covaxin is developed by Bharat Biotech, an Indian biotechnology company. It has been authorized for use in several other countries as well, such as Brazil, Iran, and Mexico. Whereas, covidshield is the version of the AstraZeneca vaccine that is manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India. It has been authorized for use in numerous countries around the world, like India, UK, and many others.

Table of Content (TOC)

Difference Between Covaxin and Covishield

For better clarity, here’s a tabular difference:

Benchmark Covaxin Covishield
Vaccine Type Inactivated virus vaccine Viral vector vaccine
Developer Bharat Biotech (India) University of Oxford/AstraZeneca (UK)
Manufacturer Bharat Biotech (India) Serum Institute of India
Efficacy 78-95% effective after second dose ~70-90% effective after second dose
Dosage Interval 4-6 weeks between 1st and 2nd doses 12-16 weeks between 1st and 2nd doses
Approved Age 18 years and above 18 years and above
Storage Temperature Can be stored at 2-8°C Can be stored at 2-8°C
Advantages More stable at higher temperatures, easier to store and distribute Easier to transport and administer in resource-limited settings

What is Covaxin?

Covaxin is a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, an Indian biotechnology company, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

Here are some key details about Covaxin:

  • Vaccine Type: Covaxin is an inactivated virus vaccine. This means it uses a weakened or inactive form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to trigger an immune response.
  • Development: Covaxin was developed and manufactured in India. It was the first COVID-19 vaccine to be developed in India.
  • Approval: Covaxin received emergency use authorization from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in January 2021, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for use in India.
  • Efficacy: Clinical trials have shown Covaxin to have an overall efficacy of around 78%. It has been found effective against multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • Advantages: As an inactivated virus vaccine, Covaxin is more stable at higher temperatures than other COVID-19 vaccines. This makes it easier to store and distribute, especially in developing countries.

What is Covidshield?

Covishield is the brand name for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Here are some key details about Covishield:

  • Vaccine Type: Covishield is a viral vector vaccine. It uses a modified version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) to deliver the genetic instructions for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the body’s cells.
  • Development: The vaccine was originally developed by researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK. It is manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII) under the brand name Covishield.
  • Approval: Covishield received emergency use authorization from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in January 2021, around the same time as Covaxin.
  • Efficacy: Clinical trials have shown Covishield to have an overall efficacy of around 70%. It has been found effective against multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • Advantages: As a viral vector vaccine, you can store and distribute Covishield at standard refrigerator temperatures, making it easier to transport and administer in resource-limited settings.

Key Difference Between Covaxin and Covishield

The key differences are in the vaccine technology used (inactivated virus vs. viral vector) and the fact that Covaxin is an Indian-developed vaccine while Covishield is the Indian-manufactured version of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

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