COVID-19 Vaccines in India
Learn more about COVID-19 Vaccines in India
With the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing across the globe, our main weapon against it is the Covid-19 vaccine.
In India, the Covid-19 vaccination drive started on January 16, and during the first phase, frontline and healthcare workers were vaccinated against the disease.
While the logistics of such a programme have been a challenge in a country as large as India, currently* over 100 million people have already been given the shot.
To get the vaccine, one needs to register on the CoWIN Portal, or the Aarogya Setu app to get their doses.
*As of April 2021
What are the COVID-19 vaccines approved in India as of date?
Scientists around the world started researching and developing a vaccine as early as February 2020. At the start of the programme in late 2020, two vaccines were approved for emergency use in India – Covishield and Covaxin.
In April 2021, a third vaccine was approved for use, Sputnik V.
Covishield
Deployed under the name “Covishield,” this vaccine was developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India.
The Covishield vaccine is made using a weakened adenovirus (a common cold virus) taken from chimpanzees. Scientists have then modified that virus to look more like a coronavirus. While it can’t cause illnesses in a patient, it makes their immune system start producing antibodies to attack any coronavirus infection.
It is administered in two doses between four and 12 weeks apart. Clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine showed an efficacy of 76% after the first dose, which increased to 81.3% after the second dose.
In total, phase III trials of the vaccine showed a 79% efficacy at preventing COVID-19 symptoms, and 100% efficacy at preventing severe disease and hospitalization.
| About the Vaccine | Covishield |
|---|---|
| Other names | AZD1222 |
| Who developed it? | Oxford University's Jenner Institute and Vaccitech, and licensed by AstraZeneca |
| When was it approved in India? | 1 January 2021 |
| When was it deployed in India? | 16 January 2021 |
| Who is manufacturing this vaccine in India? | Serum Institute of India (SII) |
| What is in the vaccine? | A weakened version of an adenovirus from chimpanzees |
| How many doses are required? | 2 doses, given between 4 and 12 weeks apart |
| Efficacy of the vaccine | 79% |
| How much does it cost? | It is priced at Rs 300 per dose for state governments, and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals |
| How much will you have to pay? | The price of the vaccine may vary depending on the institution and state where you reside |
| What are the side effects of the vaccine? | Common side effects include headache, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, fever, chills, and nausea. |
Covaxin
The Covaxin vaccine was developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and India's National Institute of Virology.
It is made using inactivated coronaviruses that are safe to be injected into patients. The deadly virus is recognized by the immune system, which begins to make antibodies against the coronavirus.
Covaxin is given in two doses, four weeks apart. In March 2021, preliminary data from its phase III trial showed that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 81%.
| About the Vaccine | Covaxin |
|---|---|
| Other names | BBV152 |
| Who developed it? | Bharat Biotech with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology |
| When was it approved? | 1 January 2021 |
| When was it deployed? | 16 January 2021 |
| Who is manufacturing this vaccine in India? | Bharat Biotech |
| What is in the vaccine? | Inactivated coronavirus |
| How many doses are required? | 2 dose, given 4 to 6 weeks apart |
| Efficacy of the vaccine | 81% |
| How much does it cost? | It is priced at Rs 400 per dose for state governments, and Rs 1200 per dose for private hospitals |
| How much will you have to pay?** | The price of the vaccine may vary depending on the institution and state where you reside |
| What are the side effects of the vaccine? | Possible side effects include pain, swelling, itching, fever, rashes, overall weakness, nausea, vomiting, and in rare cases, difficulty in breathing and swelling of the throat and face. |
Sputnik V
While the vaccine was approved for use in April 2021, it is expected to begin being deployed by late May 2021.
Developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, it initially caused controversy but was eventually proven effective in fighting Covid-19. Like the Covaxin virus, it uses a harmless version of a cold-type virus that helps the body produce antibodies to fight off the coronavirus without becoming ill.
Unlike the other vaccines mentioned, the Sputnik V vaccine uses two slightly different formulas in the first and second doses (given 21 days apart), which is thought to give longer-lasting protection against the virus.
In February 2021, the interim analysis of the phase III trials indicated a 91.6% efficacy, with very few side effects.
| About the Vaccine | Sputnik V |
|---|---|
| Other names | Gam-COVID-Vac |
| Who developed it? | Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia |
| When was it approved? | 12 April 2021 |
| When was it deployed? | Deployment is expected to begin by May 2021 |
| Who is manufacturing this vaccine in India? | Dr. Reddy's Laboratories |
| What is in the vaccine? | A weakened version of an adenovirus |
| How many doses are required? | 2 doses, given 21 days apart |
| Efficacy of the vaccine | 91.6% |
| How much does it cost? | Unknown |
| How much will you have to pay? | Unknown |
| What are the side effects of the vaccine? | Sore arm, tiredness, and a low fever. |
How to register to get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Individuals eligible for the Covid vaccine need to register to receive both doses of the injection. There are two main ways to do so, through the CoWIN platform, or using the Aarogya Setu application.
Once you have registered, you will be allocated a particular date, venue, and time, based on which you would need to visit the location for the inoculation. Remember that both doses you get have to be of the same vaccine.
Read more about How to get COVID-19 Vaccine in India
Are there more COVID-19 vaccines being developed?
Currently, a number of other vaccines are awaiting approval. These include Covovax, developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; ZyCoV-D, developed by Cadila Healthcare; and BBV154 which is also being developed by Bharat Biotech.
Even though getting the Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory in India, it can protect you against a deadly and virulent disease. All of the mentioned vaccines have proven to be very effective in preventing people from contracting symptomatic Covid-19 and minimizing the chances of hospitalization.
While the different Covid vaccines might work differently and have slightly different efficacies, they will all do the job of protecting you from getting Covid-19 and spreading it to others. This is why it is important to get your doses at the earliest and to take whichever vaccine is available to you. They have all been proven to be safe and effective.
And finally, remember that even after you have been vaccinated, you might still carry the virus. Hence to avoid passing it on to other people who have not been vaccinated, you must still follow the correct Covid protocols, such as social distancing and wearing masks.