COVID-19 Vaccines in The Fight Against Coronavirus

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Covid-19 vaccines

India is going through a frightening situation. The number of corona patients are rising, and so the death rates. In the present terrifying situation, the coronavirus vaccines are the only ray of hope. The second and third wave of Coronavirus has made all of us affected by it. To a few, the virus has infected physically, and the rest of us are battling with depression, anxiety, and negative thoughts. We have reached the point where it has become difficult to watch the COVID-19 news. Considering the chaos, the GOI has announced that every 18+ citizen will get the COVID-19 vaccine

The coronavirus vaccine is the only solution that can help to control this difficult situation. With the announcement to make the COVID-19 vaccine available for all (18+) citizens, the government of India has also opened the doors for other vaccines like Sputnik V and Pfizer. India has already started to vaccinate its people with COVAXIN and COVISHIELD. Both vaccines are made in India and had given impressive results so far.

The government of India has launched the Coronavirus vaccine in three phases. In the first two phases, the 60+ and then 45+ age group were counted in. In 2020, the first wave of COVID-19 was more dangerous for older people. So, the government planned to protect them first. In phase 3, all the adult people of India can get the vaccine. To vaccinate such a huge population, India would need more vaccines, better planning and educating people. So, other approved vaccines will be available in India soon. Soon Pizer and other vaccines will be available in India, you must want to get the best one for you. So here, we have compiled information from various sources on different COVID-19 vaccines. 

COVID-19 Vaccines Available in India

If you are 18 years old or elder, you will be eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine from 1st May 2021. In the present situation, it is the only reliable way to be safe from this Coronavirus. India has already vaccinated its people with 100 million doses on Covishield and Covaxin. The government has asked the private clinics to vaccinate the eligible ones, so demand for Coronavirus vaccines will rise, and many other COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers will approach Indian authorities. Considering the present situation, the demand for vaccines is high, and supply is low, so when other vaccines get entry, India would be able to vaccinate more people. You can check out the available vaccines for COVID-19 before taking a shot.

COVISHIELD

The Serum Institute of India has manufactured Covishield. The Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, and the vaccine they manufactured for Coronavirus is a trusted one in India. At present, the institute is producing more than 60 million doses in a month, as reported. The GOI is providing the vaccine in government hospitals, and a few million of its doses have been given to the people.

The vaccine is made from a weak adenovirus, which is a common cold virus from chimpanzees. Some changes have been made to the virus, so it has more similarity to Coronavirus. In easier words, you can say that the vaccines have some weak common cold virus that will start making antibodies in the host’s body. In case of coronavirus infection, the antibodies will prompt the immune system to inactive the virus.

To get the maximum protection against the coronavirus, you will have to take two doses of the vaccine in a gap of 4 to 12 weeks. It is a must to take both of the doses stay protective from the deadly Coronavirus. The vaccine is stored in 2 to 8 degree Celsius temperature, as reported. The vaccine is also named as Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In international trials, its effectiveness reached upto 70%. However, no written data is available to prove this claim.

COVAXIN

Covaxin is India’s first vaccine against Coronavirus. It is being manufactured by Bharat Biotech in the collaboration of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Bharat Biotech is a 24 years old vaccine making company. Its portfolio includes 16 vaccines that are exported to 123 countries. 

The Covaxin is made of killed Coronavirus and falls in the category of inactivated vaccines. The inactivated vaccines are already present before Covaxin. Vaccines for diseases like Polio, Rabies, and few others are based on inactivated vaccines. Now Covaxin is a part of the government’s vaccination program. In phase 3 trials, it has found that COVAXIN has the efficiency rate of 81%. The vaccine received the approval in January 2021. Its two doses are given in intervals of four weeks. The vaccine has no sub-zero storage, and it remains stable at the temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius. 

Sputnik V

One of the globally accepted corona vaccines is Sputnik V. It is also known as Covid-19 vaccines of Russia. Gamaleya Institute of Russia developed and introduced it to immune the people from Coronavirus. The controversy with the vaccine is its launching time as it was introduced before the final trial. The vaccine has a cold type of virus that is made to be harmless to the human body. It delivers a small fragment of the COVID-19 virus to humans and makes them immune to the Coronavirus. The small part of the virus allows the body’s system to recognize the threat and prepare its fight against it. After getting its vaccination, the body starts producing antibodies against Coronavirus. The vaccine remains safe at the temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

As the GOI will need more COVID-19 vaccines to vaccinate 18+ so Sputnik V will be available to India soon. The vaccine is 92% effective. It was approved in the late-stage trial results of the vaccine published in The Lancet. Sputnik V is also a two doses vaccine. Its two doses are to be injected in a gap of 21 days. The vaccine gives longer and safe protection against the virus. The doses of Sputnik V will be produced in India. Initially approx. Eight hundred fifty million doses of the vaccine will be manufactured at the Indian plant. The vaccine is manufactured by the Russian Direct Investment Fund for global distribution. In India, the RDIF is in touch with a few vaccine manufacturers. According to the latest information following five, vaccine makers will manufacture Russia’s vaccine in India; Gland Pharma, Panacea Biotec, Hetero Biopharma, Stelis Biopharma, Virchow Biotech. Serum Institute of India is also in talks with RDIF to start manufacturing the vaccine in its Pune plant.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer is a COVID-19 vaccine being widely used for people 16 years and above in age. It’s an authorized and recommended vaccine to combat Covid-19. After getting the desired and accurate results now, Pfizer might be available in the Indian market soon. It’s an mRNA vaccine that is used to protect the body against infectious diseases. The vaccine helps the muscles to make a protein that immunes the health system. Pfizer does its work with the help of mRNA technology.

To get immunity against Coronavirus, one has to take two doses of the Pfizer in a gap of 21 days. A few specialists in the US also recommend the third dose of the vaccine, but FDA is yet to approve this recommendation. The mRNA technology has been used earlier to make a vaccine for the Zika virus. Flu and rabies. Pfizer, the COVID-19 vaccine of US, shows a very effective efficacy rate of 95%.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Like Pfizer, Moderna is one of the WHO approved COVID-19 Vaccines. Its also works on mRNA and suitable for adults. The two doses of vaccines need to be taken in the gap of 28 days though the interval can be extended upto 42 days. The vaccine is authorized to be used across Europe. Still, there is no confirmation of the arrival of the vaccine in India. the vaccine has an efficacy of approx—92%.

Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 Vaccine

The single-dose COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson and Johnson was banned after the cases of rare and severe type of blood clot were reported in vaccinated people. It has been reported that most of the cases were found in women in the age group of 18-49 years.

The FDA and CDC examined the data to assess the risk of thrombosis involving the CVST, cerebral venous sinuses, thrombocytopenia, or low blood platelet counts.

The FDA and CDC concluded that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. Further, the CDC has said “At this time, the available data suggest that the chance of TTS occurring is very low, but the FDA and CDC will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk”.

The Last Word

India has vaccinated more than 100 million people with the COVID-19 vaccine, and it aims to vaccinate 250 million people that come on the priority list till July 2021. With the second and third wave of Coronavirus, India has left all other countries behind with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in a day. Corona vaccine is the only shield that can help you from this deadly virus. So if you are eligible, then you must get the corona vaccine. The crumbling medical system, shortage of oxygen, struggle for hospital beds says it all, so when its your turn take the vaccine. Meanwhile, follow the corona-appropriate behavior and stay safe.

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