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<ul><li>The latest study, which was conducted in Brazil and Scotland, reportedly showed that the effectiveness of the vaccine reduced 18-19 weeks after the second shot of the Astrazeneca vaccine.</li><li>The study went on to conclude that those who took the Covishied vaccine may need to consider booster shots.</li><li>Business Insider has reached out to Serum Institute of India for comments and will update the story if and when we receive a response.</li></ul>Amid heated debates on whether people should be told to get booster shots of vaccine, in the face of a fresh outbreak of Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, a new article published in the Lancet weighs in favour of additional jabs. This was based on a study of those who got Covishied, developed by Astrazeneca and sold by the Serum Institute in India. The latest study, which was conducted in Brazil and Scotland, reportedly showed that the effectiveness of the vaccine reduced 18-19 weeks after the second shot of the Astrazeneca vaccine. Reduced effectiveness can be read as higher chances of need for hospitalisation and even deaths. The study went on to conclude that those who took the Covishied vaccine may need to consider booster shots. This may be significant for India as the biggest chunk of those vaccinated in the country have been given Covishield jabs. As of December 21, 2021, more than 89% of the vaccine doses administered in India were Covishield. Business Insider has reached out to Serum Institute of India for comments and will update the story if and when we receive a response. In Brazil, the vaccine effectiveness was found to be generally lower as compared to Scotland. The randomised trials revealed that the vaccine’s effectiveness improved up to 4-5 weeks after the second dose and started decreasing at 18-19 weeks. The report further highlighted that the patterns for COVID hospitalisation and deaths were broadly similar in both the countries. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/meta-files-lawsuit-against-over-39000-websites-to-disrupt-phishing-attacks-designed-to-steal-login-credentials-of-its-users/articleshow/88405129.cms">Meta files lawsuit against over 39,000 websites to disrupt phishing attacks designed to steal login credentials of its users</a>

Lancet article makes a case that those who took Covishield vaccine need booster shots

<ul><li>DCGI has approved market authorisation for the COVID-19 vaccine <keyword id="10678894" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covovax" source="Orion">Covovax</keyword> as a heterologous booster dose for adults.</li><li>The DCGI's approval came following recommendations by the <keyword id="3923779" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="subject-expert-committee" source="Orion">Subject Expert Committee</keyword> of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (<keyword id="6375144" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cdsco" source="Orion">CDSCO</keyword>).</li></ul>The <keyword id="6386816" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="drug-controller-general-of-india" source="Orion">Drug Controller General of India</keyword> (DCGI ) has approved market authorisation to COVID-19 vaccine Covovax as a heterologous booster dose for adults who have been administered two doses of <keyword id="9617748" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="covishield" source="Orion">Covishield</keyword> or <keyword id="9485939" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="covaxin" source="Orion">Covaxin</keyword>, official sources said on Monday. The DCGI's approval came following recommendation by the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Prakash Kumar Singh, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the <keyword id="95879" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="serum-institute-of-india" source="Orion">Serum Institute of India</keyword> (<keyword id="52604" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sii" source="Orion">SII</keyword>), had recently written to the DCGI for the approval of Covovax heterologous booster dose for those aged 18 years and above in view of escalating COVID-19 pandemic situation in some countries, an official source had said. "The Subject Expert Committee of the CDSCO on Wednesday deliberated on the issue and had recommended for market authorisation of Covid jab Covovax as a heterologous booster dose for adults who have been administered two doses of Covishield or Covaxin," an official source said. The DCGI had approved Covovax for restricted use in emergency situations in adults on December 28, 2021, in the 12-17 age group on March 9, 2022, and in children aged 7- 11 years on June 28 last year subject to certain conditions. Covovax is manufactured through technology transfer from Novavax. It has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for conditional marketing authorisation. It was granted emergency-use listing by the <keyword id="43588" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="Orion">World Health Organization</keyword> (WHO) on December 17, 2021. In August 2020, US-based vaccine maker Novavax Inc. had announced a licence agreement with the SII for the development and commercialization of NVX-CoV2373, its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> and low-and-middle-income countries. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amazon-great-republic-day-sale-2023-best-deals-and-offers-on-tvs/articleshow/96987966.cms">Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2023 – Best deals and offers on TVs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/these-audio-setting-tweaks-can-make-music-sound-better-on-spotify/articleshow/96876010.cms">These audio setting tweaks can make music sound better on Spotify</a>

Serum Institute's Covovax gets DCGI approval as a heterologous booster dose

<ul><li>SII chairperson Cyrus Poonawalla emphasised that a third booster shot of <keyword id="8904563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword> is a “must” for people with weak immune systems.</li><li>The US government last week approved the third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people with weakened immune systems.</li><li>Meanwhile, <keyword id="6366244" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="who">WHO</keyword> and SII have confirmed the existence of fake Covishield vials in India and Africa.</li></ul><keyword id="242973" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute">Serum Institute</keyword> of Indi's (SII) chairperson Cyrus Poonawalla has said that a third shot or a ‘booster dose’ of COVID-19 vaccine is desirable six months after taking the second dose of the vaccine. This is especially a “must” for those with weak immune systems, news agency PTI reported. SII makes India's primary COVID-19 vaccine, locally known as Covishield. Poonawalla also revealed that he, along with 7,000 employees of SII, have already taken the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure. “After six months, the antibodies go down and that is why I have taken the third dose. We have given the third dose to our seven to eight thousand SII employees. For those who have completed the second dose, it is my request to take a booster dose (third dose) after six months,” Poonawalla said. This development comes a week after the government of the United States (US) <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-is-eligible-third-covid-19-vaccine-dose-us-2021-08-15/">approved</a> the third/booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people with weakened immune systems. Now, Pfizer and BioNTech have also <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/16/covid-vaccine-booster-shot-pfizer-submits-data-to-fda-for-approval.html">submitted</a> preliminary clinical data — evaluating the safety and efficacy of a third shot — to US health authorities to seek authorisation for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for all Americans and not just the ones with weakened immune systems. "The data we've seen to date suggest a third dose of our vaccine elicits antibody levels that significantly exceed those seen after the two-dose primary schedule,'' Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chairperson and chief executive officer, said in a statement. The menace of fake vaccine vials continues Another major issue that has been surrounding the Indian vaccination drive has been the administration or availability of fake COVID-19 vaccines in India. The <keyword id="6356311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organisation">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO) has <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58253488">identified</a> counterfeit versions of Covishield in India and Africa. As per the BBC report, the doses were seized by authorities in India and Africa between July and August. Even vaccine maker <keyword id="95879" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword> has confirmed, to WHO, that the vaccine was fake. Multiple media reports, published in the past months, have also highlighted the existence of a vaccine scam in India under which victims were given saline water in lieu of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health minister of Maharashtra Rajesh Tope also <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/mumbai/story/mumbai-covid-vaccination-scam-victims-given-saline-water-antibody-test-first-week-july-1820847-2021-06-29">confirmed</a> the scam, and ensured that the victims would undergo antibody tests and will be administered with two doses of Covishield vaccine. Covishield is the local name of Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and has been administered to more than 48.6 crore Indians, as per government data, as of August 17, 2021. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/a-third-of-internet-users-would-be-actively-shopping-online-by-the-end-of-this-decade-offline-retail-to-take-a-back-seat/articleshow/85390712.cms">A third of internet users would be actively shopping online by the end of this decade, offline retail to take a back seat</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/with-pharmeasy-mobikwik-and-ixigo-all-set-to-hit-the-public-market-orios-plans-to-go-deeper-into-pre-ipo-bets/articleshow/85359703.cms">With PharmEasy, MobiKwik and ixigo all set to hit the public market, Orios plans to go deeper into pre-IPO bets</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tamil-nadu-government-is-upset-about-losing-money-on-luxury-cars/articleshow/85322536.cms">Tamil Nadu government is upset about losing money on luxury cars</a>

WHO confirms existence of fake Covishield vaccines in India; Serum Institute pushes for a booster shot

<ul><li>The Indian immunisation panel is discussing a fourth dose of <keyword id="8764262" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covid" source="Orion">Covid</keyword> vaccine, or a <keyword id="10424474" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="second-booster-dose" source="Orion">second booster dose</keyword>. </li><li>India started its booster or precaution dose drive in January 2022 and has so far inoculated over 15 crore Indians in the age group of 15-59 years. </li><li>Only 28% of the eligible population in India have received the first <keyword id="2825536" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="booster-dose" source="Orion">booster dose</keyword> so far.</li></ul>Covid-19 cases are once again <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/indias-case-tally-of-new-omicron-variant-xbb-1-5-reaches-five-heres-what-you-need-to-know/articleshow/96704832.cms">rising across various parts</a> of the world and the Indian government has already started taking precautionary measures. As India has also reported cases of new variants like XBB.1.5, BF.7, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) is considering to roll out a second booster dose or fourth dose of Covid vaccine for the Indian population. “Discussions have started on the matter of opening a second booster among members of the technical group. There is a section that is keen on allowing another booster dose. They will be minutely going through all the scientific data before making any recommendations,” an expert on one of the committees of NTAGI <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/discussions-begin-in-govt-panel-on-2nd-booster-dose-101672684219149.html">said</a>. Last week, doctors of <keyword id="6365835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Medical-Association" source="Orion">Indian Medical Association</keyword> (IMA), in a discussion with the union health minister <keyword id="2607815" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mansukh-mandaviya" source="Orion">Mansukh Mandaviya</keyword>, suggested that the government must approve a fourth Covid-19 vaccine for people. <a href="https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/medicines/c/covid-19-vaccine-booster/">New Zealand</a> is one such country which has approved a second booster dose for people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The second booster dose is offered at least six months after the previous dose or three months after a COVID-19 infection. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Booster dose coverage" comment="subhead" text="Booster dose coverage">Booster dose coverage</cmsannotation> Amid Covid fears, the government is also taking steps to boost the coverage of the first booster dose in the country. India started its booster or precaution dose drive in January 2022 and has given 15 crore booster doses to people in the age group of 15-59 years; and over 69 crore in the age group of 60 plus years, according to <a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/CummulativeCovidVaccinationReport06Jan2023.pdf">data</a> by <keyword id="210071" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-health" source="Orion">ministry of health</keyword>. As of January 6, 2023, around 92 crore adults have taken their first dose, while 86 crore vaccines have been administered a second dose in India. Additionally, over 6 crore children aged between 15-18 years have received the first dose, and over 5 crore children in this age group have received the second dose. In the age group of 12 to 14, around 4 crore children have received the first dose, and 3 crore have received the second dose. Other than Covaxin (by Bharat Biotech) and Covishield (by Serum Insitute of India), the government has also approved two more vaccines — Corbevax (by Biological E) and a nasal vaccine named as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/covid-19-nasal-vaccine-bharat-biotechs-incovacc-is-the-first-approved-intranasal-vaccine-in-the-world/slidelist/96542239.cms">iNCOVACC</a> (by Bharat Biotech) as booster dose. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="People reluctant to take booster dose" comment="subhead" text="People reluctant to take booster dose">People reluctant to take booster dose</cmsannotation> Even as discussions around the fourth vaccine are going on, people in various states are reluctant to get their precaution doses. In fact, as per <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/discussions-begin-in-govt-panel-on-2nd-booster-dose-101672684219149.html">reports</a>, currently only 28% of the eligible population in India has taken the first booster dose. The West Bengal health department also saw the number of booster dose nosedive, which led to 80,000 Covaxin vaccines expiring by December last year. As per <a href="https://ians.in/news/public-reluctance-to-go-for-covid-booster-dose-worries-bengal-govt/C-1-1550083.html">IANS</a>, the WB health department said that over seven crore people went for the first dose, but the number slid down for the second dose. However, when it came to the third dose aka the booster dose, the number fell to just 1.5 crore. The department official also said this reluctance of people will further lead to more expiration of Covid-19 vaccines in January. A <a href="https://ians.in/news/over-6-in-10-indians-avoiding-covid-booster-due-to-heart-attack-fears-report/C-1-1545504.html">LocalCircles survey</a> also revealed that 64% of Indians are reluctant to take the booster dose of Covid vaccine. The major reason cited by people is rising cases of heart attacks in young people. However, as cases are rising the demand for Covid-19 vaccine seems to be surging and in fact, states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh reported a vaccine shortage. "Since the Covid cases had dropped drastically, people had started taking Covid-19 lightly and were less enthusiastic in taking booster doses, so the government, too, was keeping a low stock. As of Monday (December 26) there are 35,000 vaccine bottles available with the state government," <a href="https://ians.in/news/sudden-surge-in-demand-for-vaccine-leads-to-shortage-in-gujarat/C-1-1546640.html">said</a> Nilam Patel, additional director (Health), government of Gujarat. Patel further said, “Till the first week of December (2022), on an average 3,000 vaccinations were taking place on a daily basis but since December 15, all of a sudden, people were turning up in large numbers to take the booster dose." Similarly, the health department of Uttar Pradesh also reported that four government vaccine centres ran out of Covid vaccines, on Wednesday, January 4. However, the department has placed a fresh order of the Covid-19 vaccines and expects it to come by next week. "More than 10 lakh vaccines will be arriving in the state shortly to fulfill the demand across the state. We are also monitoring the COVID-19 situation," Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of UP told <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/uttar-pradesh-lucknow-government-hopital-run-out-of-covid-doses-india-15580451.htm">PTI</a>. A new <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/newsblogs/covid-outbreak-live-news-coronavirus-india-china-cases-latest-updates-5-january-2023/liveblog/96752025.cms">report</a> also reveals that around 11 types of Covid-19 variant were found in India, when testing international passengers at airports, seaports and landports between December 24 and January 3. (With inputs from PTI and IANS) SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/kreditbee-closes-200-million-series-d-from-advent-international-mufg-bank-others/articleshow/96791309.cms">KreditBee closes $200 million Series D from Advent International, MUFG Bank, others</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/reliance-makes-open-offer-to-acquire-26-stake-in-lotus-chocolate/articleshow/96791043.cms">Reliance makes open offer to acquire 26% stake in Lotus Chocolate</a>

India mulls 2nd Covid booster even as coverage of first dose remains feeble

India's drug regulator has given approval for a study to be conducted by the <keyword id="93589" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Christian-Medical-College">Christian Medical College</keyword> (CMC), Vellore on mixing of COVID-19 vaccines <keyword id="9485939" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="covaxin">Covaxin</keyword> and Covishield, official sources said on Wednesday. An expert panel of the <keyword id="170943" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Drugs-Standard-Control-Organisation">Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation</keyword> (CDSCO) on July 29 had recommended granting permission for conducting the study. The trial will involve 300 healthy volunteers. "The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility on whether a person can be given two different vaccine shots -- one each of Covishield and Covaxin -- to complete the inoculation course," a source said. Separately, a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) involving 98 people, 18 of whom had inadvertently received Covishield as the first dose and Covaxin as the second in <keyword id="413944" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="uttar">Uttar</keyword> Pradesh, showed that combining these two COVID-19 vaccines elicited better immunogenicity than two doses of the same vaccine. The study also found that immunisation with combination of Covishield and Covaxin was safe and the adverse effects were also found to be similar when compared to the same dose regimen. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-launches-mi-mix-4-its-first-under-display-camera-phone/articleshow/85231596.cms">Xiaomi debuts its first under-display camera on the Mi Mix 4</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-teases-a-foldable-phone-announcement-clashing-with-samsungs-unpacked-event/articleshow/85233365.cms">OnePlus teases a foldable phone announcement clashing with Samsung’s Unpacked event</a>

DCGI approves study on mixing of Covaxin and Covishield  COVID-19 doses, say sources

New Delhi, As India gets readied for a <keyword id="10424473" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="massive-covid-vaccination-programme">massive Covid vaccination programme</keyword>, heath experts on Sunday said that 21 days is an ideal gap between the first and the <keyword id="10424474" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="second-booster-dose">second booster dose</keyword>, and those who get vaccinated have to maintain the same health hygiene as they are supposed to do sans vaccine for a certain time period. Union Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said that 30 crore people have been listed in prioritised population groups, which involves one crore healthcare workers, two crore personnel from the police department, armed forces, home guard, civil defence organisation and 27 crore people above the age of 50 and below 50 with co-morbidities. The government is expected to roll out its <keyword id="9849917" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="first-vaccines">first vaccines</keyword> in the next few weeks with at least three candidates under the <keyword id="6681091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="active-consideration">active consideration</keyword> of India's drug regulator. According to Dr Manoj Goel, Director, Pulmonology at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, after taking the first dose, the second dose has to be ideally taken on the 21st day. "After the vaccination, one can resume their normal day to day activities. In between also, there are no guidelines to sit at home and people can carry on their usual activities by taking the basic precautions like social distancing, wearing a mask and frequent sanitising of hands," Goel told IANS. The Union Health Ministry had said that 1.54 lakh vaccinators or auxiliary nurse midwives will administer the <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">Covid-19</keyword> vaccine to people under the universal immunisation programme when the vaccination process begins. According to Dr Jyoti Mutta, Senior Consultant, Microbiology at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in New Delhi, there are a number of vaccines which have different schedules and these vaccine schedules are determined by clinical trials. "Talking about Pfizer vaccine in this regard, two doses are suggested 21 days apart and two doses 28 days apart for AstraZeneca vaccine. Also, the proper rest and precautions are suggested during this period in order to avoid infection and proper care," she told IANS. Dr Mutta also stressed that staying at home is not particularly defined as a precautionary measure but complete care is recommended. "Taking precautions like wearing a mask, social distancing and hand hygiene is important to avoid infection," she noted. Dr Neha Gupta, Infectious Diseases Physician at Medanta Hosptial in Gurugram told IANS: "Vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart and usually the protective efficacy is seven days after the second dose. So, patients need to continue precautions after the first dose of vaccine." There are as many as eight <keyword id="8983421" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covid-vaccine">Covid vaccine</keyword> candidates under different stages of clinical trials which could be ready for authorisation in near future. The vaccines include Covaxin, Astrazeneca and Oxford university developed and Serum Institute of India manufactured <keyword id="9617748" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covishield">Covishield</keyword>, ZyCoV-D by Zydus Cadila, Russian vaccine candidate Sputnik-V, NVX-CoV2373 by SII, HGCO19 by Geneva, and two unlabelled vaccines - Recombinant Protein antigen-based vaccine by Biological E Limited and Inactivated rabies vector platform by <keyword id="7330627" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech-Limited">Bharat Biotech Limited</keyword>. Pune-based Serum Institute of India and Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech have already applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) seeking emergency use authorisation for their potential Covid-19 vaccines. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/dos-and-donts-during-solar-eclipse-surya-grahan/articleshow/76436997.cms">The do’s and don’ts of a Solar Eclipse — here what you need to know to protect yourself</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/solar-eclipse-december-2020-time-date-everything-you-need-to-know/articleshow/79697355.cms">The total solar eclipse and its 'diamond rings' won't be visible in India on December 14</a>

Experts believe COVID-19 vaccine doses need a at least a 21-day gap between them

Neutralising antibody responses against the SARS-COV-2 virus and its variants of concern (VoC) are higher among <keyword id="9617748" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="covishield" source="Orion">Covishield</keyword> recipients than those who took the indigenously made <keyword id="9485939" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covaxin" source="Orion">Covaxin</keyword>, according to a multi-centre study. The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted on the preprint server MedRxiv on Friday, also found that when compared to the pre-vaccination baseline, both vaccines elicited statistically significant antibody levels in both seronegative individuals and seropositive or those who had recovered from COVID-19 infection. Between June 2021 and January 2022, the researchers enrolled 691 participants in the 18-45 age group across four sites in urban and rural Bengaluru and <keyword id="2094" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pune" source="Orion">Pune</keyword>. Participants received either two doses of Covaxin at 28 days apart or two doses of Covishield at three months apart. The <keyword id="1609796" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="omicron" source="Orion">Omicron</keyword> wave in early 2022 overlapped with the second dose of vaccine in two sites and with both doses in one site. Participants were sampled at six timepoints for antibody analyses and at four timepoints for cellular analyses. When compared to pre-vaccination baseline, both vaccines elicited statistically significant antibody levels in both seronegative and seropositive individuals, the researchers found. Covishield elicited immune responses of higher magnitude and breadth than Covaxin in both seronegative individuals and seropositive individuals, across cohorts representing the pre-vaccination immune history of the majority of the vaccinated Indian population. Immunologist Vineeta Bal noted that in young adult population there is a difference in the response to COVID vaccines, if individuals are already infected with SARS-CoV-2 and recovered (seropositives) versus not infected. "In seronegatives, two doses of Covishield lead to higher magnitude of antibody levels in higher proportion of vaccine recipients as compared to Covaxin recipients," Bal, from <keyword id="101852" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-institute-of-science-education-and-research" source="Orion">Indian Institute of Science Education and Research</keyword> (IISER), Pune and one of the study authors, told PTI. "In terms of waning of immune response with time also Covishield vaccinated individuals retain antibodies in their blood for longer period in larger proportion of individuals,” she said. The study does not directly look for or document protection from COVID-19 in the recipients. "Levels of neutralising antibodies as well as T cell responses, according to different investigators, are indirect indicators of protection,” Bal said. "The interim results so far show that Covishield vaccination induces robust neutralising antibodies against the original SARS-CoV2; Covaxin also does it but somewhat less efficiently,” she added. "Against later variants of the virus such as Delta and Omicron, especially Omicron, neutralising antibodies triggered by Covishield are not as effective, however, they appear marginally better than in Covaxin recipients," Bal added. Prior studies comparing Covishield and Covaxin were limited to addressing only antibody responses and in particular in the health care worker population who were immunised prior to the Delta wave. There is, however, limited data on cellular immune responses elicited by these vaccines and no direct head to-head comparisons or stratification by pre-vaccination serostatus. Vaccination following exposure to the Delta or Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 is likely to affect the quality, quantity and duration of immune responses. For determining future COVID-19 vaccination policy when pan-coronavirus or sarbecovirus vaccines become available, it becomes important to take into account pre-vaccination immune history of the majority of the vaccinated Indian population. "Some unpublished work from other investigators in India seems to suggest that heterologous boosting i.e. Covaxin in Covishield recipients and vice versa works better than homologous boosting," Bal added.

Covishield immune responses against Covid variants higher than Covaxin: Study

New Delhi, Days before the <keyword id="23914" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="commencement">commencement</keyword> of the <keyword id="10584544" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nationwide-covid-19-vaccination-drive">nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive</keyword>, the <keyword id="83655" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-health-ministry">Union Health Ministry</keyword> said on Tuesday that 1.1 crore <keyword id="9617748" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covishield">Covishield</keyword> and 55 lakh <keyword id="9485939" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="covaxin">Covaxin</keyword> vaccines have been procured at a cost of ₹200 and ₹206 per dose, respectively. "As many as 110 lakh (1.1 crore) doses of Covishield vaccine are being procured from the <keyword id="95879" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword> at a cost of ₹200 per dose, excluding taxes. A total of 55 lakh doses of Covaxin vaccine are being procured from <keyword id="149108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword>," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said during a press conference.2 The cost of 38.5 lakh doses of Covaxin is ₹295 per dose, excluding taxes. Bharat Biotech is providing 16.5 lakh doses of Covaxin free of cost to the Central government. Hence, the cost of Covaxin comes to ₹206 per dose," he added. Vaccines have already reached some states. Till 4 p.m., about 54,72,000 doses were received by the states and <keyword id="390245" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Territories">Union Territories</keyword>. By January 14, 100% doses will be received. The much-awaited Covid-19 vaccination drive will kick-off on January 16. The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of the drive. Priority will be given to the healthcare and frontline workers who are estimated to be around three crore, followed by those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population with comorbidities numbering around 27 crore. On January 3, two vaccines -- Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute of India -- were approved for 'restricted emergency use'. Few more vaccines are in the pipeline and are conducting trials. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-backup-and-restore-messages-in-signal-app/articleshow/80226649.cms">How to backup and restore messages in Signal app</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-says-your-privacy-wont-be-affected-if-you-dont-use-these-features/articleshow/80225748.cms">WhatsApp says your privacy won't be affected if you don't use these two optional features</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-puts-indias-three-farm-laws-on-hold-forms-a-five-member-panel-to-resolve-the-deadlock/articleshow/80229881.cms">India's top court puts three new farm laws on hold — forms a five-member panel to resolve the deadlock</a>

Indian government procures over 1 crore Covidshield vaccine doses for ₹200 apiece and 55 lakh Covaxin doses for ₹206

As of now as many as 110 countries have recognized India's Covid vaccines -- <keyword id="9617748" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covishield" source="Orion">Covishield</keyword> and <keyword id="9485939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covaxin" source="Orion">Covaxin</keyword> -- and have agreed to mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates with India, said official sources in the Union Health Ministry. A source with the Ministry said that at present, 110 countries have agreed to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and those who recognise Indian vaccination certificates of travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield or World Health Organisation(WHO)-approved Covid vaccines. As per the new travel guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry, if a fully vaccinated traveller is coming from a country with which India has reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines, they will be allowed to leave the airport and must self-monitor their health for 14 days' post arrival. If partially or not vaccinated travellers visit India, they will have to submit their sample for post-arrival Covid-19 test at the point of arrival after which they will be allowed to leave the airport. They will have to be undergo home quarantine for seven days and undertake re-test on the eighth day of arrival in India and if found negative, further self-monitor their health for next seven days. "Travellers artiving from countries excluding those at risk, will be allowed to leave the airport and must self-monitor their health for 14 days' post arrival. This is applicable to travellers from all countries, including with which reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines also exist," said the new international arrival guidelines. Of eight WHO-approved vaccines against Covid-19 in emergency use listing, two vaccines -- Covaxin and Covishield -- are from India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/indias-covaxin-77-8-effective-for-covid-19-says-lancet-report/articleshow/87661300.cms">India's Covaxin 77.8% effective for COVID-19, says Lancet Report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/ideal-time-for-booster-dose-for-covid-19-vaccine-is-6-months-after-second-dose-says-bharat-biotech-md/articleshow/87629337.cms">Ideal time for COVID-19 booster shot is six months after the second dose, says Bharat Biotech MD</a>

Covishield and Covaxin are now recognized by 110 countries

<ul><li> Nearly 600 million more people in India will become eligible for getting the COVID-19 vaccine on May 1.</li><li>At the time, at least 40 million people will be eligible for their second dose and that number would rise every passing day, adding over 65 million people by the end of May.</li><li>According to government guidelines, the second dose needs to be administered within four to eight weeks of the first dose.</li></ul>There will be at least 40 million people eligible for the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine on May 1. According to the Indian government, the interval between the first and second dose should be four to eight weeks. “Most likely, after eight weeks, you should consider your first dose to be a waste of time,” Dr Kunal Sarkar, the chief cardiac surgeon and senior vice chairman of Medica Hospital in Kolkata, told Business Insider. Dr Sarkar’s view echoes the <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1706597">government guidelines</a> that said that the second dose of Covishield should be administered “not later than stipulated period of 8 weeks.” While a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00528-6/fulltext">Lancet study</a> has shown that a longer interval may improve the vaccine’s efficacy, the study itself recommended a 12-week interval between doses. Moreover, the vaccines currently in use are those that have been given emergency approval and it is wise to err on the side of caution especially with new variants of the virus emerging. “With COVAXIN, they maintain that the interval should be four weeks. With Covishield, as per their trial data, even they said four weeks. Then, based on certain experiences in the UK, it was stretched to six weeks,” said Sarkar. “Now, because of the irregularity in supply, it is anybody's guess… By and large, we are afraid if it stretches beyond eight weeks or so, then will the two-dose concept still remain valid? There is no data.” In order to ensure that people who already have the first dose do not get pushed behind in the queue, the Indian government should allow for separate counters and dedicated slots for people who are eligible for the second dose. This would be easier said than done given the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/vaccine-shortage-in-india-18-people-could-not-find-covid-19-dose-when-they-went-for-vaccination-in-first-ten-days-of-april-says-survey/articleshow/82014884.cms">current shortage </a>of vaccine supply across many states. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Description </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Number of doses </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Number of first doses given as of April 1 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">58,354,638 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Number of second doses given between April 2 to April 28 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">16,572,965 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">10-day average for second dose administration as of April 28 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">833,782.3 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">People likely to get vaccinated between April 29 and April 30 as per 10-day average </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,667,564.6 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Number of people likely to be eligible for the second dose on May 1 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">40,114,108.4 </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: Data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) On May 1, as the country opens up its vaccination drive to everyone above the age of 18 years, 600 million additional people will become eligible. This could lead to another crisis as another 40 million will already be waiting in the queue for the second dose. And that number will rise with every passing day, as the 65 million people above the age of 45 — who got the first dose after April 1 — complete their stipulated time of four to eight weeks and join the queue for the second dose. If they don’t get vaccinated in time, they will have to begin the vaccination cycle all over again. <div type="image" title="rush of people vaccine_edited" msid="82304037" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People queue up to get their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam on April 28&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to Dr Marcus Ranney, founder and chief executive of Human Edge, the need to separate the people coming in for vaccination is also important to avoid the spreading of the virus at the centres. “As the window will open to 18-year-olds, they very clearly need to have centres that are earmarked for different populations. If they try and serve everyone from the same place, it’s just going to create chaos and may even fuel a much larger spread,” he told Business Insider. One way to stall the chaos is to prioritise those who need the second shot. Another filter that can be used is to ask those who may have been infected by COVID-19 in recent weeks to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/if-you-have-just-recovered-from-covid-19-experts-say-you-dont-need-to-join-in-on-the-rush-for-vaccination-immediately/articleshow/82302460.cms">stay out of the queue</a>. “What hasn’t been used as well as we could have done is the same methodology used with polio and other types of vaccines, which was more door to door — particularly for the elderly folks,” said Ranney. All in all, the government needs to come out with clear guidelines to ensure no one is left behind, and not one precious dose goes to waste — especially since India has already wasted 4.6 million doses till April 11. <div type="image" title="vaccine queue_edited" msid="82304124" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People wait in a long queue to get vaccinated in Visakhapatnam on April 27&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="There is going to be a crazy rush at vaccination centres in the absence of proper guidelines" comment="subhead" text="There is going to be a crazy rush at vaccination centres in the absence of proper guidelines">There is going to be a crazy rush at vaccination centres in the absence of proper guidelines</cmsannotation> This has become evident from the response to the opening up of online booking of vaccination slots. The government opened up registrations for people between the ages of 18 to 44 on April 28. And, before things could even take off, registration was delayed from midnight to 4:00 pm. According to the government, more than 3.5 million people registered within the first hour of the launch. But when it came to being able to book an appointment, they passed the buck onto state governments and private vaccination centers. When the floodgates opened, the CoWIN app, Aarogya Setu app and UMANG app’s servers crashed. Many of those who got the chance to register via the CoWIN website, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/cowin-website-is-back-up-after-an-early-crash-finding-a-vaccination-slot-may-still-be-difficult/articleshow/82291583.cms">never found an open slot. </a> Even if the government were to take no new bookings, and only focus on those needing second shots at all centres, at the current rate of vaccination, it would take 48 days to just go through that lot. In such a scenario, it is not unimaginable that those who need the second shot never get the slot before their 12-week deadline. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The other challenge will be allocating the limited vaccine supplies" comment="subhead" text="The other challenge will be allocating the limited vaccine supplies">The other challenge will be allocating the limited vaccine supplies</cmsannotation> This would not have been a concern if India had enough vaccines to go around for everyone who wants it. However, that’s not the case because the government dragged its feet in placing the orders. On April 23, the government pledged to increase the monthly production of doses to around 100 million doses by September with the rate of immunisation slowing down amid rising cases. When the government opened up jabs for those above the age of 45 from May 1, it had expected the imported lot of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to arrive by then. While Russia is now sticking to the date, it is not clear how many doses will come in, especially after a brief attempt to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/exclusive-india-get-russias-sputnik-v-vaccine-only-by-end-may-2021-04-22/">delay the supply</a> to the end of May. Having to repeat the first doses for even one person is a waste of precious resources. Managing a pandemic was never going to be easy. Imagining scenarios and preparing for the possibilities is the only way to keep things from spiraling out of control. The updated version of the story includes additional opinions from Dr Kunal Sarkar and the Lancet study, which recommended an interval of 12 weeks between two vaccine doses. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/cowin-website-is-back-up-after-an-early-crash-finding-a-vaccination-slot-may-still-be-difficult/articleshow/82291583.cms">CoWIN website is back up after an early crash⁠ — finding a vaccination slot may still be difficult</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-vaccine-price-sc-wants-the-indian-government-to-explain-about-covishield-and-covaxin-pricing/articleshow/82272913.cms">Supreme Court wants the Indian government to explain vaccine pricing — and clarify how many doses it will need as coverage expands from May 1</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/australia-suspends-incoming-flights-from-india-until-may-15/articleshow/82271595.cms">Australia suspends incoming flights from India until May 15 — IPL cricketers, coaches and broadcasters left in a bind</a>

You Searched For "two doses of covishield" and got 10 results

Lancet article makes a case that those who took Covishield vaccine need booster shots

BI India Bureau

Serum Institute's Covovax gets DCGI approval as a heterologous booster dose

PTI

WHO confirms existence of fake Covishield vaccines in India; Serum Institute pushes for a booster shot

Kritti Bhalla

India mulls 2nd Covid booster even as coverage of first dose remains feeble

Vaamanaa Sethi

DCGI approves study on mixing of Covaxin and Covishield COVID-19 doses, say sources

PTI

Experts believe COVID-19 vaccine doses need a at least a 21-day gap between them

IANS

Covishield immune responses against Covid variants higher than Covaxin: Study

PTI

Indian government procures over 1 crore Covidshield vaccine doses for ₹200 apiece and 55 lakh Covaxin doses for ₹206

IANS

Covishield and Covaxin are now recognized by 110 countries

IANS

India may end up wasting millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses if there is no separate queue for second shots

Prabhjote

Sriram

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