Mixing and matching of Covaxin and Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccines available in India, have shown better results in building immunity against the virus, according to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The study was conducted between May and June this year in Uttar Pradesh. The study suggests that immunisation with combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine followed by inactivated whole virus vaccine was not only safe but also gave better immunity against the variant strains of SARS-CoV-2.
“Such mixed regimens will also help to overcome the challenges of shortfall of particular vaccines and remove hesitancy around vaccines in people’s mind that could have genesis in programmatic ‘errors’ especially in settings where multiple Covid-19 vaccines are being used,” the study suggests.
The ICMR study is yet to be peer-reviewed.
On July 30, a Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended conducting a study on mixing doses of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines. The recommendation came following an application by Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore.
Amid, the fear of a third wave and the emergence of the delta plus variant, an earlier study by India’s premier health agency had said that Bharat Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine Covaxin is effective against the Delta Plus variant of the SARS CoV2 virus. The study was, however, yet to be peer-reviewed.
With 39,070 people testing positive for coronavirus infection, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,19,34,455, while the death toll climbed to 4,27,862 with 491 fresh fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated today. The active cases have declined to 4,06,822, cumulatively 50.68 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive till Sunday morning.