In a groundbreaking study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia on March 6, researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have unveiled crucial insights into the effectiveness of Covishield and Covaxin, the two primary COVID-19 vaccines administered in India, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
The study, titled ‘Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines BBV152 (COVAXIN) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD) in seronegative and seropositive individuals in India: a multicentre, non-randomized observational study,’ delves into the immune responses generated by these vaccines and offers valuable comparative data.
Conducted from June 2021 to January 2022 across 11 institutes, including prominent institutions from Pune, the study analyzed 691 participants aged 18 to 45 from Bangalore and Pune. Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune, and Covaxin, developed and produced by Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, were the subjects of scrutiny.
Key findings from the study include:
Robust Immune Responses: Covishield consistently elicited more robust immune responses compared to Covaxin, particularly in terms of antibody levels and T cell activation. This suggests a potentially stronger and enduring immune response induced by Covishield.
Differential Immune Responses: While the majority of participants exhibited near-complete immune responses to Covishield, the response to Covaxin varied, especially among those vaccinated before the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Protection Against Variants: Covishield demonstrated higher antibody levels against various virus strains, indicating potential superior protection against variants such as Omicron.
The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of immune responses following vaccination, considering participants’ immune history prior to vaccination. Dr. Mangaiarkarasi Asokan, lead author of the study, emphasized the scarcity of comparative studies on these two vaccines, making this research a pioneering effort in the field.
Vineeta Bal, Emeritus Professor at IISER Pune, highlighted the significance of this comparative data, which was previously unavailable, and underscored the pioneering technology employed in conducting this study.
Professor LS Shashidhara, NCBS Centre Director, emphasized the study’s contribution to future vaccine strategies, given the evolving nature of the virus and the importance of informed decision-making in public health initiatives.
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the immune responses elicited by Covishield and Covaxin, laying the groundwork for informed vaccine strategies and interventions in India’s ongoing battle against COVID-19.