What is the Covovax COVID-19 vaccine & why you should know about it
Covovax is the locally produced variant of Novavax in India, developed by Serum Institute India, which also developed the Covishield vaccine. The Novovax vaccine from which the Covovax vaccine was created was made by a company of the same name. Novavax is an American-based company that works on making vaccines for serious infectious diseases.
The Covovax vaccine has been WHO-approved for emergency use. The Drugs General Controller of India (DGCI) has also approved the emergency use of Covovax in late 2021. The Covovax vaccine currently, as per the clinical trials, has an overall efficacy rate of 89% as per the phase 3 clinical trials. It has been proven that, much like Covishield, the protection of Covovax does not vary according to the variant of the COVID-19 virus.
With an efficacy rate close to and even over 90%, according to some studies, the Covovax vaccine has a considerable advantage over the other vaccines that are currently being used to vaccinate the masses in India. Now that you know what the vaccine is, let’s take a closer look at Covovax and why it is a crucial breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19.
How Is The Covovax Vaccine Developed?
The Covovax vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine that was created using the genetic sequence of the original/first strain of the SARS CoV 2 virus that started the COVID-19 pandemic. The Novavax recombinant nanoparticle technology was used to generate an antigen from the ‘S’ protein of the SARS CoV 2 virus. This vaccine is relatively safe, and it contains a protein antigen that can not replicate or cause COVID-19. It only triggers an immune response in your body against the virus to improve your immunity against COVID-19.
What You Should Know About The Covovax Vaccine
Interval Period
The Covovax vaccine has an interval period of only 21 days between the two doses of the vaccine, making it one of the shortest interval periods of COVID-19 vaccines. However, you should know that the vaccine is currently only allowed for vaccinating 18 years and older population in the countries that have approved Covovax.
Efficacy
The Covovax vaccine has shown an efficacy rate of 89% against COVID-19. The vaccine has also been reported to be equally effective against the other variants of COVID. The 89% efficacy rate was confirmed by a major study in the UK. In other studies, the vaccine has shown even higher efficacy, with data ranging over 90% of efficacy against COVID-19. The high efficacy rate matched with the low interval period makes it one of the best vaccines for you to go for to protect yourself against COVID-19.
Side Effects
The Covovax vaccine does not have any severe side effects from the vaccination. The common side effects include tenderness and pain around the vaccination area, fatigue, and headache. These side effects are also short-lived and go away in less than 48 hours of the vaccination. The low side effects and lack of severe side effects make it an ideal vaccine for vaccinating all demographics of the population.
Cost & Storage
The vaccine is supposed to be launched at a tentative cost of around Rs. 1100 per dose. The official data regarding the price of Covovax has not been revealed yet. It is expected that the official cost of the vaccine will be revealed on its official launch. The storage of this vaccine has to be done in containers with a temperature of around 2-8o Celsius.
Final Thoughts
The Covovax COVID vaccine shows excellent promise for Indians with its short interval period and high efficacy against COVID. The Covovax vaccine is currently only approved for emergency use by the DCGI and WHO. So, if you or your loved ones are suffering from COVID or want to learn more about the Covovax vaccine, you can visit Medipulse hospital, the best tertiary care hospital in Jodhpur, for more information about the Covovax and other COVID treatment procedures.