News Brief
Covaxin & Covishield: Data Shows Not Much Difference Between Post-Vaccination Coronavirus Infection Rate
Bhaswati Guha Majumder
May 20, 2021, 10:20 AM | Updated 10:20 AM IST
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While the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin are found to be generating an immune response against the coronavirus, some Covid-19 cases are being detected among those who are fully vaccinated.
As per the data, 23,940 people in India tested positive for Covid-19 after taking both shots of Covaxin—0.13 per cent of total vaccinated.
Among these people, 18,427 got the infection after the first dose, while 5,513 people tested positive after the second jab—which needs to be administered after 28 days.
In the case of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines’ Indian version Covishield, 84,198 people tested positive after the first dose, while 34,874 were infected after the second jab—which can be administered after 12-16 weeks according to the new recommendation.
It means that the total number of people who tested positive after taking both shots of Covishield is 119,072— 0.7 per cent of total vaccinated individuals.
India Today reported that as of 18 May, around 1,90,90,000 Covaxin doses were administered in India, while the number is more than 16,47,64,000 in the case of Covishield doses.
An unnamed source told the media that “when you compare the data in terms of percentage, then both are comparable — 0.13 per cent [Covaxin] and 0.07 per cent [Covishield]”.
The source explained that the number of cases after Covaxin inoculation is less while the number of doses that have been administered is also low.
“The number of cases after Covishield is more than Covaxin. The number of doses of Covishield is also more,” the source said.
On 21 April, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said that 0.04 per cent of 17,37,178 people, who got Covaxin’s second jab, were tested positive for the infection.
According to Bhargava, 0.03 per cent of 1,57,32,754 people, who took the second dose of Covishield, got the Covid-19.
He said that Covid-19 vaccines reduce the infection risk and severity, as well as prevent deaths.
“After vaccination, if one gets infection then it is known as breakthrough infection,” said Bhargava, as reported by Financial Express.
At that time, 1.1 crore doses of Covaxin doses were administered.
Ninety-three lakhs received the first dose, and among these people, 4,208 (0.04 per cent) individuals got the infection which is four per 10,000 individuals.
Bhargava explained that around 17,37,178 people received the second dose, of which only 695—meaning 0.04 per cent—tested positive for the coronavirus caused disease.
In terms of Covishield, by 21 April, 11.6 crore doses were given to people in India.
Among ten crores of people who received the first dose of Covishield, 17,145 people—meaning 2 per 10,000 individuals—contracted coronavirus infection.
Almost 1,57,32,754 people got the second dose, and among them, 5,014—which means 0.03 per cent—tested positive for Covid-19.
At that time, Bhargava said: “This is a very small number and not at all worrisome.”
NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said that there is a risk even after receiving vaccines.
So, he urged people to follow all the Covid-19 related protocols after the vaccination.
Vaccination Details
Dr Neralla Subrahmanyam MS, MCh Neurosurgery, who is currently the President of the Indian Medical Association in Andhra Pradesh, told News18, that if a person had got the novel coronavirus during the vaccination process or just right after it, they might test positive.
Experts said that if someone is infected during the interim period, he or she should wait for a while and safely take the vaccine after two to four weeks when all the symptoms of the virus are gone.
According to doctors, if someone gets infected after taking both doses of either vaccine, there is no need for revaccination.
But in the case of a person who has had Covid-19 recently and wants to take the vaccine, then the vaccination should be done anytime between one to three months after symptom resolution.
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