All three vaccines are equally effective in protecting you against COVID-19.
Here are some facts about each vaccine to help you decide which is better...
1. Covaxin – Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine that contains the dead virus, making it safe to be injected into the body. When administered, immune cells can still recognise the dead virus, prompting the immune system to make antibodies against the pandemic virus. The vaccine has an efficacy rate of 81%, preliminary data from its phase 3 trial shows. The two doses are given four weeks apart. The vaccine can be stored at 2C to 8C. It costs ₹1200 for private hospitals per dose.
2. Covishield – The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is being manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer. The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees. It has been modified to look more like coronavirus - although it can't cause illness. When the vaccine is injected into a patient, it prompts the immune system to start making antibodies and primes it to attack any coronavirus infection. This vaccine has 70% efficacy rate. The jab is administered in two doses given between four and 12 weeks apart. It costs ₹600 for private hospitals per dose.
3. Sputnik V – The vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, initially generated some controversy after being rolled out before the final trial data had been released. It uses a cold-type virus, engineered to be harmless, as a carrier to deliver a small fragment of the coronavirus to the body. Safely exposing the body to a part of the virus's genetic code in this way allows it to recognise the threat and learn to fight it off, without the risk of becoming ill. After being vaccinated, the body starts to produce antibodies especially tailored to the coronavirus. Sputnik V gives around 92% protection against coronavirus. Two slightly different versions of the vaccine are administered at a gap of 21 days. It costs ₹1250 for private hospitals per dose.
What are the new vaccines coming up?
The other candidates which are in different stages of trials in India to test safety and efficacy include:
- ZyCov-Di, being developed by Ahmedabad-based Zydus-Cadila.
- A vaccine being developed by Hyderabad-based Biological E, the first Indian private vaccine-making company, in collaboration with US-based Dynavax and Baylor College of Medicine.
- A nasal vaccine by Bharat BioTech.
- A second vaccine being developed by Serum Institute of India and American vaccine development company Novavax.
- HGCO19, India's first mRNA vaccine made by Pune-based Genova in collaboration with Seattle-based HDT Biotech Corporation, using bits of genetic code to cause an immune response.
All the vaccines available for the people right now have meet the approval and safety standards. And now the important thing is that the best vaccine is the one available for you right now!
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