Topic: Covishield

Antibody levels against Omicron were higher in people who had taken a 3rd Covishield dose than in people who’d had other Covid variants, found a preprint study by Oxford researchers.

The findings drawn from datasets in Brazil and Scotland suggest that booster programmes are needed in those vaccinated with AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, known as Covishield in India.The findings drawn from datasets in Brazil and Scotland suggest that booster programmes are needed in those vaccinated with AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, known as Covishield in India.

No decision has been taken yet on whether booster shots will be given, even as healthcare workers who got fully vaccinated in February near 10 months of vaccination.

The study, however, says vaccines will continue to provide sufficient protection against the severity of the disease and fatality, based on breakthrough infections data they analysed.

With Omicron on the prowl and decision pending on vaccinating children, government may wait before using the one crore doses of ZyCoV-D, the only vaccine licensed for use in minors

Covishield is administered in India at an interval of 12-16 weeks, and Covaxin at 4-6 weeks. Study, yet to be peer-reviewed, also says vaccines are effective against Delta and other variants.

The SII will commence Covid vaccine export under the COVAX programme from 23 November. Nepal, Tajikistan, Mozambique and Bangladesh are the 4 nations that will receive the doses.

SII's Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs is learnt to have recently communicated to Union Health Ministry that it has a manufactured stock of 24,89,15,000 Covishield doses.

According to Dr Subhash Salunkhe, one reason for increasing Covishield dose gap was vaccine shortfall, says ‘there should be more latitude in this now that situation has eased’.

The fact that it’s taken so long for Covaxin to get approval casts doubt on not only Bharat Biotech, but also the regulatory process in India.