Covishield Vaccine
Covishield Vaccine has been developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford university in the UK and is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune. Successful clinical trials have been conducted in S.Africa, Brazil, and the UK with bridging study results in the Indian population based on which the approval was granted by DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India)
Covishield Vaccine
Basic Information
Important information about this medicine
About This Medicine
General information about this product
Covishield Vaccine has been given an emergency use authorization (conditional approval) for active immunization of individuals aged 18 years and older for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease that is caused by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2).
Covishield Vaccine has been developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford university in the UK and is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune. Successful clinical trials have been conducted in S.Africa, Brazil, and the UK with bridging study results in the Indian population based on which the approval was granted by DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India)
Covishield Vaccine is given as an injection into the muscle of the upper arm. The vaccination course consists of two separate doses. The government of India has extended the gap between the first and the second dose to 12-16 weeks. Taking just a single dose is not enough as it is insufficient to produce a protective level of antibodies in the body to prevent the infection. So make sure you turn up for the second dose.
Initially, the recommended doses were given 4 to 6 weeks apart. However, clinical trials showed that Covishield Vaccine has an average efficacy of 54% when the 2 doses are administered 4 to 6 weeks apart. Furthermore, the efficacy has been reported to increase to around 79% if the gap between 2 doses is increased. Therefore, according to the new directives, the gap between the 2 doses has been raised to 12-16 weeks.
The possible side effects of Covishield Vaccine include reactions at the site of injection (such as pain, swelling, and redness), headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, malaise (general discomfort), fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms. Most of these side effects are mild and temporary (subside within 2-3 days) that subside on their own. If required, you may take paracetamol to provide symptomatic relief. However, if these persist (symptoms continue beyond 2-3 days) or get worse, let the doctor know.
To make sure the vaccine is safe, before receiving the vaccine, it is important to let your doctor or vaccinator know if you have any other illnesses, history of any allergy, fever, or bleeding disorders. You should also tell the doctor about all the medicines you are taking, especially blood thinners or any medicines affecting your immune system.
Children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers have not been a part of the vaccine trials. Therefore, they should not get the vaccine at this time as the safety of the medicine for them is still not known. Also, individuals who have received another COVID-19 vaccine should not receive Covishield Vaccine.
03Uses
Prevention of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
04How To Use
Your doctor or nurse will guide you how to use this medicine.
05How It Works
Covishield Vaccine contains a non-replicating virus (a weakened chimpanzee adenovirus that causes common cold), that is genetically engineered to produce coronavirus proteins in the body, but the virus is weakened and cannot cause the disease. It provides active immunization against Covid-19 infection that helps you fight the virus if exposed. This means there is a reduced risk of developing the illness and its consequences.
06What If You Miss A Dose?
If you miss a dose of Covishield Vaccine, please consult your doctor.
07Benefits
In Prevention of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Covishield Vaccine is used for preventing COVID-19 infection. Moreover, even if you get infected, Covishield Vaccine may help reduce the severity of that infection. Make sure to complete the entire dosing schedule of Covishield Vaccine. Additionally, take all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety, such as wearing a face mask, avoiding crowded places, washing your hands or using a hand sanitizer at regular intervals, and maintaining social distancing whenever possible.
08Side Effects
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Flu-like symptoms
Chills
Fever
Feeling of discomfort
Fatigue
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Vomiting
Nausea
Headache
Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness)
09Safety Information
Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Covishield Vaccine. Please consult your doctor. As per experts, there is no evidence of alcohol impairing the effectiveness of the vaccine
Pregnancy:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Covishield Vaccine is safe to use during pregnancy. Most studies have shown low or no risk to the developing baby.
Breast feeding:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Covishield Vaccine is safe to use during breastfeeding. Human studies suggest that the drug does not pass into the breastmilk in a significant amount and is not harmful to the baby.
Driving:SAFE
Covishield Vaccine does not usually affect your ability to drive.Covishield Vaccine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some of the adverse reactions may temporarily affect the ability to drive or use machines.
Kidney:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Covishield Vaccine in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.
Liver:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Covishield Vaccine in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.
10Drug Tips
Covishield Vaccine is a 2-dose vaccination regimen. The second dose is administered between 12 to 16 weeks after the first dose.
Covishield Vaccine is usually given into the muscle (intramuscularly) of the upper arm.
Getting vaccinated is voluntary. However, it is advisable to complete the vaccination schedule to restrict the spread of the virus.
Have a proper meal before visiting the vaccination site. Do not get vaccinated on an empty stomach.
Individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection should defer vaccination for 14 days after symptoms resolution as they may increase the risk of spreading the infection to others at the vaccination site.
A minimum interval of 14 days should be maintained between the administration of any other vaccine. However, if the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential unknown risks of vaccine coadministration, COVID-19 and other vaccines may be administered within a shorter period (e.g., tetanus vaccine, rabies vaccine, etc.)
You may be observed at the vaccination center itself to guard against any immediate allergic reaction or side effect.
In addition to vaccination, observe other control measures such as social distancing, mask donning, and hand-washing.
Covishield Vaccine is currently not meant to be administered in children as safety and efficacy are not yet established.
References
Sources and references
COVISHIELD . Pune, Maharashtra: Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd. view
COVISHIELD . Pune, Maharashtra: Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd. view
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Government of India. FAQs for Healthcare Workers and Front line workers. view
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Government of India. Vaccination: Frequently Asked Questions. view
COVISHIELD . Mississauga, Ontario: Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2021. view
World Health Organization. Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines. view
World Health Organization. Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine. view
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Government of India. Common Side Effects : Some common ailments that can be expected after vaccination. view
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Government of India. Questions and Answers. view
Institute Of Preventive Medicine. Vaccination Appointment for International Travelers . view
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Government of India. Letter from Additional Secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding Contraindications and Factsheet for COVID-19 vaccines view
Hartford Healthcare. These Are the Top 5 Vaccine Questions on Google. We Have the Answers. view
Moyer MW. When Will Kids Get COVID Vaccines? Scientific American. 2021 Mar. 30. view
Camero K. Don’t worry if you catch coronavirus when fully vaccinated — it can happen. Here’s why. Miami Herald. 2021 Apr. 01. view
