How To Choose A Covid-19 Vaccine Approved For Use In India?

India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive is well into its third phase, where any citizen above the age of 18 is eligible for the vaccine. Currently, you have the option to select from 3 options for the vaccine: Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V. Take a look at some of the basic details about where the vaccines were developed and produced.  

• Covaxin is developed by Bharat Biotech International Ltd in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). 
• Covishield is developed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca and is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). 
• Sputnik V is developed by Gamaleya Institute in Moscow, Russia and it is being manufactured in India by Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

All of these vaccines are injected in the upper arm area in 2 doses. They have all completed their final stage trials and have proved to be equivalent in their effect against Covid-19. While you can choose one and wait for it to be available, it is best to take the first short of whichever vaccine is available and follow it with another dose of the same vaccine. 

For a more detailed look at the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India, click here. You can read more about staying healthy at home during a pandemic on our Activ Living Blog.