Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V: Know the differences, similarities in parameters of three COVID-19 vaccines
India has two home-grown vaccines approved and deployed in current
vaccination drive and a third one from Russia approved and awaiting
delivery. The registration process for those in 18-45 age group began
on the government’s CoWIN platform on April 28 for vaccination is set to
begin on May 1. Currently, the government-sponsored drive covers only
those above 45 years at designated vaccination sites.
India is trying to accelerate its massive vaccination programme in the
middle of a devastating second Covid-19 wave, the government has an also
allowed sales of vaccines to private players. In a 'philanthropic
gesture', the Serum Institute of India on Wednesday announced that it
would sell its's COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' for Rs 300 to state
governments, instead of the Rs 400 they had earlier decided.
Meanwhile, Covaxin, India's home-grown COVID-19 vaccine, has been found to neutralise the 617 variant of the deadly virus, White House chief medical adviser and America's top pandemic expert Dr Anthony Fauci said in Washington. The New York Times on Tuesday said Covaxin works by teaching the immune system to make antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The antibodies attach to viral proteins, such as the so-called spike proteins that stud its surface.
Both. Covaxin and Covishield are available to Indian citizens for free at government centres and at Rs 250 in private hospitals. Imported, fully ready-to-use foreign vaccines like Sputnik V will also become available in the open market post Saturday, May 1, . The Indian consumers will have to buy their vaccines once private sales begin or states buy stocks to vaccinate these people.
Here is a comparison between Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik V:
| Vaccine | Type of Vaccine | Dosage and time gap between doses | Storage and expiry | Price in INR (Rs) |
| AstraZeneca (Covishield from SII - Pune) | Viral Vector | 2 injections, 12-week gap | 2 to 8 Deg C, 6 months | For govt: Rs 300 per dose to states and Rs 600 per dose to private hospitals For citizens: Rs 250 in private hospitals and free at government centres |
| CoVaxin (Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad) | Inactivated Virus | 2 injections, 4-8 week gap | 2 to 8 Deg C | For govt: Rs 600 per dose for state governments and Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals For citizens: Rs 250 in private hospitals and free at government centres |
| Sputnik V (Gamaleya - Russia & Dr Reddy's) | Viral Vector | 2 injections; 21 days to 3 months |
-18.55 Deg C (liquid form) and 2 to 8 Deg C (dry form) | Not yet officially declared for India. Globally priced at $10 (approx Rs 750) per dose. |
Sputnik uses two different vectors (carriers) for its vaccine,
therefore its two doses are different. Both must be taken as prescribed.
As for AstraZeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, epidemic
experts and virologist say that no two different vaccines must be mixed and matched for the two doses.
For vaccines requiring multiple doses, the dose usually induces an
immune response about three weeks later, but it can take up to eight
weeks or longer for the antibodies to mature and become fully
functional.
So even after taking the two doses as prescribed, people must continue
with their COVID-19 safety protocol of washing hands with soap and
water, social distancing, and masking up - apart from the other SOPs
that help us stay safe.