Covaxin vs Covishield - Which one to choose?

Posted on: May 18, 2021 | | Written by:

Covaxin vs Covishield - Which one to choose?

Published on May 18, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Covaxin vs Covishield – Health Insurance

There is no doubt that the only way to end the global health crisis triggered by the spread of COVID-19 is to develop herd immunity in the global population. Herd immunity is developed by a combination of the global population developing immunity to the virus as a result of either getting infected with the virus and recovering from it or by getting vaccinated. Vaccination is the surest and safest path to developing herd immunity and eliminating the threat of fatality from coronavirus. Immunity developed by getting vaccinated does not prevent individuals from getting infected, but it does reduce the severity of the infection and prevents hospitalization. And, currently, as we know, newer variants of COVID-19 are being detected frequently. This means that the pandemic is far from over. So, it is not only important to know the covaxin and covishield difference, but also other important aspects of these two vaccines. The following are the difference between covaxin and covishield.

1. Manufacturers

There are three vaccines that have been approved for use by the public in India today by the DCGI. Covaxin and Covishield are two such vaccines, both of which are being manufactured in India.

• Covaxin

Covaxin has been developed and manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology.

• Covishield

Covishield has been developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca and is being manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India.

2. Types of Vaccine

Both vaccines adopt different techniques to trigger an antibody response in the human body.

• Covaxin

Covaxin introduces a dead or inactive coronavirus into your body. While the introduction of the virus doesn’t infect you, it triggers the production of antibodies that are trained to fight COVID-19 specifically. In the event you are infected after taking the full dose of the vaccine, your body has antibodies that are trained to attack the virus without leading to severe symptoms due to infection.

• Covishield

Covishield is a weakened version of a common cold virus that has been engineered to resemble the coronavirus. It triggers the same antibody response in the body as the Covaxin without actually making the host body sick.

3. Doses

Both vaccines are two-dose vaccines. This means unless you take two doses of the same vaccine within the specified time frame you are not fully inoculated.

• Covaxin

The doses are to be administered four weeks apart.

• Covishield

The doses are to be administered between four and twelve weeks apart. Ongoing research has found that the efficacy of the vaccine improves as duration between both doses increases (12 weeks at the most).

4. Efficacy

Efficacy indicates the level of protection the vaccine provides against developing severe complications that require hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

• Covaxin

Data from the phase 3 trials of the vaccine shows that the efficacy of the vaccine is 81% when taken four weeks apart.

• Covishield

International clinical trials state that the efficacy of the vaccine after receiving a full dose is 90%.

5. Side Effects

It is essential to know covaxin vs covishield side effects. The side effects observed for both vaccines are deemed mild and temporary. Adverse reactions developed during trials were chalked up to causes unrelated to the vaccine. Basis underlying health conditions and other medication you may be on, side effects could vary. Consulting your physician before taking the vaccine is advisable.

• Covaxin

Side effects of Covaxin include fever, body ache, rashes, fatigue, nausea and pain at the site of injection.

• Covishield

Side effects include fever, chills, pain at the injection site, fatigue, nausea, muscle ache and a general feeling of malaise.

As medical experts are emphasizing, all the vaccines approved for use by the Drugs Comptroller General of India (DCGI) are safe to use and prevent the worst outcome of COVID-19 which is hospitalization and death. Any vaccine available to you right now, is the right vaccine to take. To protect your family’s finances against the cost of treatment of coronavirus, there are health insurance policies for coronavirus that are available to the public.Corona Kavach policies are an effort to give individuals and families access to proper medical care if they are infected by the virus. Hospitalization expenses to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms can drive families into debt and eat into savings. Health insurance that provides coverage for expenses arising out of treatment for Covid19 are a good way to increase preparedness to deal with the illness.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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