The COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine for COVID-19 protection that is marketed under several brand names, including Covishield and Vaxzevria. Oxford University and the British-Swedish Corporation AstraZeneca created it in the United Kingdom using the modified chimp adenovirus ChAdOx1 as a vector. The vaccination is given as a shot directly into the muscle. According to 2020 studies, the vaccine is 76.0% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 beginning 22 days after the first dose and 81.3% effective after the second dose.

Usages And Vaccination Courses

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine used to protect against COVID-19 in adults aged 18 and up aims to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two 0.5 mL (0.017 US fl oz) intramuscular injections into the deltoid muscle are required to use this medication.

The Covishield Vaccine is administered by injecting the medication into the upper arm muscle. For the full immunisation, two shots are required. The Indian government now recommends a 12 to 16-week interval between doses. Because a single dose is insufficient to elicit a protective antibody response, repeated dosing is required to avoid infection. The second dose is critical, so take it.

The initial dosage interval was 4 to 6 weeks. In clinical trials, however, when the two doses of the Covishield Vaccine are given 4 to 6 weeks apart, the vaccine is shown to be effective 54% of the time. Furthermore, it has been claimed that increasing the time between dosages increases the effectiveness to approximately 79%. As a result, the revised guidelines advise waiting 12-16 weeks between doses.

Side Effects And Precautions

Covishield Vaccine may cause specific unwanted effects like pain, swelling, redness, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain, exhaustion, malaise (general discomfort), fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms. Most of these adverse reactions are short-lived (lasting only a few days) and quickly dissipate. Paracetamol, if needed, can help alleviate your discomfort. Let your doctor know if the symptoms last more than a few days or worsen.

Before getting vaccinated, it’s vital to tell your doctor or vaccinator if you have any preexisting conditions, like allergies, fever, or bleeding disorders, so they can assess whether or not you’re a good candidate for the vaccine. In addition, all the medications you are currently taking, especially those that thin the blood or influence the immune system, should be disclosed to the doctor.

Vaccine testing has not included children. Therefore, Covishield Vaccine should not be given to anyone with another COVID-19 vaccine.

Health Id

The government has implemented a novel health id concept that allows internet and non-internet users to create a digital identity and participate in the country’s first digital healthcare ecosystem, thereby increasing safety measures.

The ABHA (Health ID), a one-of-a-kind health identification number, will be based on a person’s mobile phone number or an Aadhaar card number. Users, health insurers, and medical facilities can access and share electronic copies of a patient’s medical history. Users will be given an ABHA card containing all the cardholder’s personal information. Using a health id card, you can check vaccine availability.

Availability Of The Vaccine

Vaccination registration time slots are available the same day or a few days in advance. The platform has been integrated into the Aarogya Setu and UMANG apps. Additionally, the platform provides access to the certificate issued following the administration of the COVID-19 immunisation. COVISHIELD is currently one of five vaccines that can be registered on the national platform.

In the future, the Co-WIN platform will be used for routine vaccinations such as Polio and Hepatitis.

Aside from the app, the government and medical experts have launched other initiatives to boost immunisation rates across the country to near-universal coverage. Frontline workers have been assigned to reach the most remote areas and ensure that everyone receives immunisations on time. Thus it is no anymore hectic to find the Covishield vaccine near me.

Effectiveness Of Covishield Vaccine

The protective efficacy of a single VE dose against Covid-19 was 49% (95% CI: 17%-68%) in 360 case-control pairs studied, and a double VE dose against the virus was 54% (27%-71%). In light of the symptom prevalence disparity between cases and controls, a further examination of data from 203 pairs in which both the case and the control exhibited symptoms revealed VE of 58% (28%-75%) and 64% (38%-78%) after one and two doses, respectively. The VE ranged from 95% (44%-100%) after any number of doses of the vaccination, with the highest rate seen in patients with moderately severe illness who required oxygen therapy.

According to preliminary data from the third testing phase, the Covishield vaccination is 81 per cent effective, while Covaxin has a global reported efficacy of around 90 per cent.

Conclusion

The SARS COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that has caused massive havoc worldwide for nearly 100 years. It has resulted in a disastrous period for the people affecting their daily livelihood. Though several high-range precaution levels have been taken, the people must get aware of the facts and maintain the safety measures as advised by the medical official. Besides medical supplies and treatment, human awareness is the only way to prevent further contamination and worse situations. Wear a mask and maintain proper hygiene to keep the world healthy.