COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has had a profound impact on the world since it first emerged in Wuhan, China, in 2019. The virus has spread rapidly and caused widespread illness and death, leading to lockdowns and other measures to slow its spread. One of the key ways to end the pandemic and return to a sense of normalcy is through the development and distribution of vaccines.

Vaccines train the immune system to recognise and fight a specific pathogen, such as a virus. When a person is exposed to the pathogen after being vaccinated, their immune system can respond more quickly and effectively to prevent or reduce the severity of the illness. Several different COVID-19 vaccines have been developed and authorised for emergency use worldwide.

One type of COVID-19 vaccine is the inactivated virus vaccine. This type of vaccine uses a version of the virus that has been killed or inactivated, so it cannot cause illness. The inactivated virus is then used to train the immune system to recognise and fight the live virus. The Sinovac and Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccines are examples of inactivated virus vaccines.

Another type of COVID-19 vaccine is the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus but instead use a small piece of genetic material from the virus to instruct cells to produce a viral protein that triggers an immune response. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are examples of mRNA vaccines.

There is also a third type of COVID-19 vaccine called the Virus Vector Vaccine. This vaccine uses a harmless virus to deliver a piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into cells. Once inside the cells, the viral genetic material instructs the cells to produce viral proteins, which trigger an immune response. The AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are examples of Virus Vector Vaccines.

All authorised vaccines have undergone rigorous safety and efficacy testing and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. However, there may be differences in how well the vaccines work against different virus variants, and research on this topic is ongoing.

CoWIN

CoWIN (COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network) is an online platform developed by the Government of India to manage the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. It is designed to assist the government in its vaccination drive by providing real-time information and data on vaccine stock, storage, and distribution.

The platform allows individuals to register for vaccination, schedule appointments, and track their vaccination status. It also includes features for vaccine providers, such as the ability to update vaccine inventory, schedule appointments, and report adverse events.

The government uses CoWIN to register and schedule vaccinations for priority groups such as healthcare workers, frontline workers, and people over 60. It is also being used to track and monitor the distribution and administration of the vaccine.

CoWIN is a web-based platform that can be accessed through the Aarogya Setu app, a contact tracing and exposure notification mobile application launched by the Government of India.

CoWIN is a crucial tool in the fight against COVID-19 and will play a critical role in ensuring the safe and efficient distribution of the vaccine to the population.

Covishield Vaccine

Covishield, also known as the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, is a viral vector vaccine developed to protect against COVID-19.

How it works

• The vaccine uses a harmless virus to deliver a small piece of genetic material called the spike protein from the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 into cells in the body.
• This spike protein is what the coronavirus uses to enter and infect human cells. By introducing this spike protein into the body, the vaccine helps the immune system recognise and fight the coronavirus if it is reencountered in the future.

Dosage- The vaccine is a two-dose regimen, with the second dose given four to twelve weeks after the first dose.

Effectiveness

• The vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19.
• In clinical trials, the vaccine was found to be 70% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. Still, this efficacy rate was later updated to around 90% efficacy when the dosing interval between the two doses was increased.

Advantages

• One of the key advantages of the Covishield vaccine is that it is relatively cheap and easy to produce and distribute, which makes it more accessible to lower-income countries.
• It can be stored and transported at normal refrigerator temperatures (between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius), making it easier to distribute to remote or rural areas.

Authorisation

• The vaccine has been authorised for emergency use by several countries worldwide, including India, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada.
• It has also been authorised for use under the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, which allows countries to quickly authorise safe and effective vaccines.

Side Effects

• Like all vaccines, the Covishield vaccine may cause some side effects. These can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site and more general sides effects such as fever, headache, and fatigue.
• These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. However, some people may experience more severe side effects, such as blood clots. These are extremely rare, and the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks.

Covaxin Vaccine

Covaxin is a vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, an Indian pharmaceutical company, to protect against COVID-19.

How it works

• Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine, which means that it is made from dead coronavirus particles.
• The inactivated virus is unable to cause the disease.
• By introducing the virus into the body, the vaccine helps the immune system to recognise and fight the coronavirus if it is encountered again in the future.

Dosage- The vaccine is a two-dose regimen, with the second dose given four to six weeks after the first dose.

Effectiveness

• The vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19.
• The clinical trial of Covaxin showed an interim efficacy of 81%

Advantages

• Covaxin was developed and manufactured in India, which makes it more accessible to the Indian population, and also it can be stored at a higher temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

Authorisation

• The vaccine has been authorised for emergency use by the Indian government and has also been authorised for use under the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure.

Side Effects

• Like all vaccines, Covaxin may cause some side effects. These can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site and more general sides effects such as fever, headache, and fatigue.
• These side effects are usually mild and go away within a few days. However, some people may experience more severe side effects, such as blood clots. These are extremely rare, and vaccination's benefits continue to outweigh the risks.

Sputnik V Vaccine

Sputnik V is a vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia to protect against COVID-19.

How it works

• Sputnik V is a vector-based vaccine, which uses a harmless virus (a weakened version of a common cold virus called adenovirus) to deliver a small piece of genetic material called the spike protein from the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 into cells in the body.
• This spike protein is what the coronavirus uses to enter and infect human cells. By introducing this spike protein into the body, the vaccine helps the immune system recognise and fight the coronavirus if it is reencountered in the future.

Dosage - The vaccine is a two-dose regimen, with the second dose given three weeks after the first dose.

Effectiveness

• The vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19.
• In clinical trials, the vaccine was found to have an efficacy rate of 91.6%

Advantages

• Sputnik V is relatively cheap and easy to produce and distribute, which makes it more accessible to lower-income countries.
• It can be stored and transported at average refrigerator temperatures (between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius), making it easier to distribute to remote or rural areas.

Authorisation

• The vaccine has been authorised for emergency use by several countries around the world, including Russia, Argentina, Belarus, and Mexico.
• It has also been authorised for use under the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, which allows countries to quickly assign safe and effective vaccines.

Side Effects

• Like all vaccines, the Sputnik V vaccine may cause some side effects. These can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site and more general side effects such as fever, headache, and fatigue.
• These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. However, some people may experience more serious side effects, such as blood clots. These are extremely rare, and vaccination's benefits continue to outweigh the risks.

Corbevax Vaccine

Corbevax is a vaccine developed by Biological E Ltd, an Indian pharmaceutical company, to protect against COVID-19.

How it works

• Corbevax is a subunit vaccine, which contains only a part of the virus, specifically the spike protein, which is the part of the virus that allows it to enter human cells.
• By introducing the spike protein into the body, the vaccine helps the immune system to recognise and fight the coronavirus if it is reencountered in the future.

Dosage- The vaccine is a single-dose regimen.

Effectiveness

• The vaccine still needs to complete its clinical trials, so the efficacy rate has yet to be discovered.

Advantages

• Corbevax is relatively cheap and easy to produce and distribute, which makes it more accessible to lower-income countries.
• It can be stored and transported at normal refrigerator temperatures (between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius), making it easier to distribute to remote or rural areas.

Authorisation

• The vaccine has yet to be authorised for emergency use by any country.

Side Effects

• The vaccine's side effects are unknown as it has yet to complete its clinical trials.

Corbevax is a vaccine candidate still in the development phase by Biological E Ltd. More information on its safety, efficacy and authorisation will be available once the clinical trials are completed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the development of vaccines is one of the most promising ways to end the COVID-19 pandemic and return to a sense of normalcy. Understanding the different types of COVID-19 vaccines can help individuals make informed decisions about vaccination and understand the science behind the vaccines. It's good to consult with your healthcare provider to determine which vaccine is right for you.

FAQ

Is there a mobile app that must be downloaded to register for vaccination?

Except for Aarogya Setu and Umang Apps, there is no authorised mobile app for registering for vaccinations in India. You must first access the Co-WIN portal at cowin.gov.in. You may also register for vaccination using the Aarogya Setu App or the Umang App.

Is it necessary to register online for COVID-19 vaccination?

No, vaccination sites have a limited number of on-the-spot registration slots available per day. Beneficiaries can register online or walk into vaccination facilities to be registered by vaccination team professionals. All recipients are generally advised to register online and schedule vaccinations ahead of time to ensure a smooth vaccination experience.

How many individuals can be registered on the Co-WIN site using a single mobile number?

Using the same mobile number, up to six persons can be registered for vaccination.