The massive surge in COVID-19 cases as part of India’s second wave has the government and public health authorities truly worried. India reported 3,92,603 new COVID-19 cases and 3,673 deaths in the past 24 hrs. The country has so far reported a total of 1,95,49,943 cases and 2,15,454 deaths whilst the country's healthcare system is going through a massive suffering with 33,43,860 active coronavirus cases. Away from masks and social distancing, experts cite mass Vaccination as a major weapon to flatten the Covid-19 case curve.
Currently, there are two vaccines available to the public in the nation, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum Institute Oxford University AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine. Other vaccines, including Sputnik V, are soon touted to be made available. Covaxin and Covishield are both are produced in India that have driven India's vaccination drives. While Covaxin is fully made, developed and produced in India, Covishield is manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India in accordance to the Oxfords AstraZeneca vaccine. While Covaxin's second dose is given 4-6 weeks after the first one, Covishield's second dose could be delayed, given 6-8 weeks after. Covishield, which wrapped up trials in November last year holds an efficacy rate of 70%, which could be further level up to 90% if the dosing is given half a dose, followed by a full dose a month later whilst as per results and clinical studies, the Bharat Biotech vaccine was found to cover 78% efficacy. While there is no scientific data available to us which shows the vaccines efficacy on the Second strain of virus but it has been observed that Covaxin is much more effective in lowering down infectivity and showcasing good tolerance against newer, infectious strains, including the UK strain.
However, experts have also cited that vaccination, with any vaccine that's available to us, is the only way of defeating and preventing the spread of new 2nd wave of coronavirus. Therefore, people should get vaccinated as and when they can.
As of 30th April, 12,53,76,952 (9.2%) have taken atleast the first dose of vaccine while 2,66,21,155 (1.6%) people are completely vaccinated. Earlier vaccination drive was restricted to only those above 45+ years of age but on April 24 centre made a commendable decision on the urge of experts to lower the age limit to 18+. Centre also decided to start the vaccination of all those above 18 from May 1. While the interim clinical trials of vaccine cite only the efficacy and mild side effects of the vaccine we don't have the actual data of the adverse effects of the vaccine. In a interview of India Today with the top virologist mr T Jacob John said, "In all developed countries, all vaccine side-effects (called AEFI, adverse events following immunisation) are listed and serious ones investigated, and information made available in the public domain. This is not done in India. So reports remain unconfirmed.
There is an AEFI monitoring committee in Delhi, but it can only work if data is made available to it. And when it comes to investigating serious AEFI, local standards vary widely. There were media reports of many deaths, but details are not given out by the AEFI Committee.
This lack of transparency has two components systemic competence and deliberate secrecy. These lead to vaccine hesitancy also. We have Western data on the AstraZeneca vaccine, called Covishield in India, and some media reports seem to corroborate with Western information. We do not have any more information.
My impression from such reports, and from the Phase 3 trial data available in the public domain, that the other vaccine, Covaxin, does not have any reported serious AEFI including death. But please don’t take my word on that, we do need authentic data the AEFI committee alone can provide."
So govt. Should give the stats about the vaccine side effects so that citizens should build trust on the vaccine.
0 Comments