According to the findings of a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), mixing the doses of the two Indian-made COVID19 vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin helps the immune system in generating a better response against the Coronavirus infection as compared to the double doses of the same vaccine.
The study is based on the screening of antibodies in a group of 18 villagers in Siddarthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh who had accidentally received the second dose of Covaxin in May after receiving the first dose as Covishield six weeks earlier.
It is reported that the study compared their reaction to 40 recipients of two doses of Covishield and 40 recipients of two doses of Covaxin.
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“We compared the safety and immunogenicity profile of them (the group of 18) against that of individuals receiving either Covishield or Covaxin. Lower and similar adverse events following immunisation in all three groups underlined the safety of the combination vaccine-regime,” stated the study report which is yet to be peer reviewed.
“Immunogenicity profile against Alpha, Beta and Delta variants in the heterologous group was superior; IgG antibody and neutralising antibody response of the participants was also significantly higher compared to that in the homologous groups,” it added.
The Covishield vaccine which is manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India is built on a viral vector vaccine platform and uses a weakened form of adenovirus that causes infection in chimpanzees whereas the Covaxin is built on an inactivated whole virus vaccine.
As per the ICMR study, the findings have an important implication for the COVID-19 vaccination program in India wherein “heterologous immunisation will pave the way for induction of improved and better protection against the variant strains of SARS-CoV-2”.
‘Govt considering mixing Covishield with Sputnik V’
Prior to the ICMR study, it was reported on August 3 that the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) is considering a mix of Covishield and the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine for better protection against the COVID19.
A media report quoted the panel of scientists from NTAGI and stated that ‘growing evidence’ that mix and match of vaccines is ‘not only safe but also produces a strong immune response’.
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Meanwhile, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which looks after the global supply and marketing of the Sputnik V COVID19 vaccine has stated that the production of the Russian vaccine in India will ‘come fully on stream’ next month, in September.
