The COVID-19 vaccine made from India was found safe and effective based on interim findings, according to its developer, this vaccine might be a key and India needs to boost its vaccination campaign. Before we proceed further, let me give a brief about
What is COVID-19?
So, COVID-19 disease is caused by a Coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. This type of Coronavirus has not been seen before. You can get COVID-19 through contact with another person who has the virus. It is predominantly a respiratory illness that can affect other organs. People with COVID-19 may experience a wide range of symptoms from mild to severe category. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell of recent onset, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
Covid-19 Vaccine: India's COVAXIN (THE BHARAT BIOTECH COVID-19 VACCINE)
The Bharat Biotech COVID-19 Vaccine (COVAXIN ) is a vaccine that has been approved for limited use in an emergency situation and may prevent COVID-19. The Central Licensing Authority has approved the sale or distribution of COVAXIN for limited use in an emergency in the public interest. The vaccine has been developed and produced in a biosafety level 3, a high containment facility It features whole-virion inactivated Vero cell technology to elicit immune response Similar to other known inactivated vaccines, the dead coronavirus could no longer replicate and revert back to its wild form, preventing the chance of causing COVID-19. The biotechnology company chose the platform due to its historical significance in creating various vaccines, including those for seasonal flu, polio, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis.
Besides the inactivated virus, the vaccine also features adjuvants or chemicals specifically designed to increase the odds of inducing an immune response. But like most COVID-19 vaccines, Covaxin must be given in a two-dose regimen with an interval of 28 days between doses. Another advantage of Covaxin is its convenient storage requirements compared to some other models it can be stored in typical storage with temperatures of 2-8°C. It doesn't require reconstitution and can be used immediately Covaxin has passed Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials In Phase 1, 375 volunteers were involved and the vaccine demonstrated efficacy against two strains of SARS-CoV-2, and only 15% of volunteers reported side effects In Phase 2, 380 participants aged 12 to 65 years were included.
The vaccine was found well-tolerated and could induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses In the Phase 3 study, 25,800 people participated and were examined for immune response and adverse reactions According to The New York Times, the Government of Brazil is one of the first to purchase Covaxin and wondered if the vaccine works. That question is likely answered now with an 81% overall efficacy rate against the COVID-19 virus the interim results, yet to be peer-reviewed, revealed that the volunteers were aged 18 to 98 years that included 2,433 adults aged 60 and over and 4,500 people with preexisting medical conditions Initial findings were derived on 43 cases composed of 36 COVID-19 cases and seven cases from the placebo group the comparison suggested that the efficacy was 80.6% to be precise. Further analyses are scheduled to prove the interim results an additional interim analysis of 87 cases and a final analysis of 130 cases have been planned.
Who should not take COVAXIN?
Inform the Vaccinator/Officer supervising your vaccination of all of your medical conditions, including if you :
- Are on regular medication for any illness, for how long, and for which condition. It is advisable not to take the vaccine in any of these conditions.
- Have any allergies
- Have fever
- Have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
- Are immunocompromised or are you on a medicine that affects your immune system
- Are pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Have received another COVID-19 vaccine
- Injection site pain / Swelling / Redness / Itching
- Headache
- Fever
- Malaise/body ache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rashes
- Had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine.
- Currently have an acute infection or fever.