What is Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine?

Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine also Known as AZD1222 and Covishield in India ,  is COVID-19 protection  achieved by the use of a viral vector vaccine. It is provided by intramuscular injection and uses the modified chimpanzee adenovirus ChAdOx1 as a vector. It was developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The vaccine is 76.0 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 starting 22 days after the first dose and 81.3 percent effective after the second dose. On 30 December 2020, the vaccine was first approved for use in the UK vaccination programme, and the first vaccination outside of a trial was administered on 4 January 2021. The vaccine has since been approved by several medicine agencies worldwide, such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, and was approved for an Emergency Use Listing by the World Health Organization (WHO).

But Despite the vaccine has been approved by many Medical Agencies and Organization , the vaccine is still in vaccine from past few weeks as it had been found out by European Scientist that  some people who got a dose developed blood clots.

Which countries have suspended the use of AstraZeneca?

  • Europe : Austria halted the use of one batch of vaccine on March 3, 2021, following two people developed blood clots after vaccination, one of whom died. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) completed its safety assessment and concluded that irregular blood clots with low blood platelets should be identified as very rare side effects, thus reaffirming the vaccine’s overall benefits. Therefore , Europe suspended the use of AstraZeneca Vaccine .
  •  Denmark : Denmark was the first country to stop the use of vaccine after reports of blood clots in some people, including one person who developed multiple clots and died 10 days after receiving the dose. However, the authorities have suspended the use of Vaccine.
  • Australia : On April 8, 2021, Australia updated its guidelines for the vaccine’s rollout to people under the age of 50, recommending instead that people under the age of 50 receive the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine if they have not already received a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands followed suit. Countries outside Europe such as Thailand and Congo also halted the rollout of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

Covishield Vacccine in India

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine known as Covishield in India  manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. The jab is administered in two doses given between four and 12 weeks apart. It can be safely stored at temperatures of 2C to 8C and can easily be delivered in existing health care settings such as doctors’ surgeries.

The jab developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, which is currently being administered in several countries, must be stored at -70C and can only be moved a limited number of times – a particular challenge in India, where summer temperatures can reach 50C.

All those vaccines which reported blood clots cases are adenoviral vaccines. While mRNA vaccines like Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech and Sputnik V have not reported any adverse effects yet.

Covishield at ₹400/dose for States and ₹600 for private hospitals - The Hindu BusinessLine

The latest data showed that the risk of TTS emerging after administering with Vaxzevria and Covishield vaccines is very low. However, the WHO committee has advised nations to do an analysis taking into account local epidemiological conditions, the target age group for vaccination and availability of alternate shots.

Though there are some rare cases of blood clotting in India and some people are really effected from the blood clots but then also demand of Covishield Vaccine in India is increasing with the each passing day. The US says it has identified about 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, which could be shared with other countries as and when they became available.

The US administration also says it is making available “specific raw materials” for the manufacture of Covishield vaccines in India (made under licence from AstraZeneca).

By Shefali Kohli