Covaxin vs Covishield: Open-market price, efficacy, second-dose timing
While Bharat Biotech has not addressed the price issue and said recovering the cost is essential, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla said the comparison between the price in India and elsewhere is unfair.
From May 1, everyone above 18 years will be considered eligible for getting a vaccination against Covid-19 only through advanced booking on Co-Win website. The registration process will begin on April 28. This is the first time that state governments and private hospitals will independently procure the vaccines and administer them at a fixed charge per dose. As of now, Covishield, the vaccine developed by Oxford University in collaboration with AstraZeneca and manufactured in India by Pune's Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin will be available. Later on, imported, fully ready-to-use vaccines will also be available in the open market.
Covaxin to cost ₹600 for states, ₹1,200 for private hospitals: Bharat Biotech
Before deciding which Covid-19 vaccine to take, here is all you need to know about these vaccines:
Efficacy
Both the vaccines comprise two doses. Covishield has an overall efficacy pf 70 per cent, but it can be over 90 per cent when administered as a half dose followed by a full dose a month later.
Covaxin has shown the efficacy of 78 per cent in the second interim analysis and 100 per cent efficacy against 'severe Covid-19 disease'.
Price
Covishield will be given at ₹400 per dose to states and ₹600 per dose to private hospitals. Covaxin, on the other hand, will cost ₹600 per dose for the states and ₹1,200 per dose for private hospitals. But how much will you have to pay?
> In Central government hospitals, all vaccinations will remain free.
> The prices that have been announced are for state governments and private hospitals to buy. The price for end-users will depend on whether the hospitals impose any additional service charge.
On Covishield price row, Centre says it will procure vaccines at ₹150 per dose
> If you are getting vaccinated at state government hospitals, the price may go down as well in case the state subsidises the price. Some state governments including Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, have announced that vaccination will be free.
> This price range is only for people in the age group between 18 and 44 years. Vaccination of healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above the age group of 45 years will continue as before.
Is the open-market price of vaccines the highest in India?
The prices fixed for private hospitals in India — ₹600 and ₹1,200 — are claimed to be the highest in the world. While Bharat Biotech has not addressed the price issue and said recovering the cost is essential, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla said the comparison between the price in India and elsewhere is unfair.
When should you take the second dose?
If you are getting Covaxin, then the second dose should be taken within four to six weeks. If you are getting Covishield, the second dose should be taken in four to eight weeks.
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