Covishield and Covaxin are found to have a higher immune response: Study

After administering two doses of Covishield vaccine, more antibodies against spike protein of Sars-CoV-2, the virus which causes Coronavirus infection as compared to Covaxin, according to the findings of the pre-print study based on real-world data for the healthcare workers across the country.

The data was collected from 515 vaccinated health care workers across 21 cities in 13 states and analyzed in several parts of the country from January and May 2021, from which 425 were administered Covishield and 90 were given Covaxin.

The study which can be virtually accessed on the open-access journal, medrxiv, with the findings which state that “among the 515 HCW (305 Male, 210 Female), 95.0% showed seropositivity after two doses of both vaccines. Of the 425 Covishield and 90 Covaxin recipients, 98.1% and 80.0% respectively, showed seropositivity. However, both seropositivity rate and median (IQR) rise in anti-spike antibody was significantly higher in Covishield vs. Covaxin recipient…”

Both the vaccines elicited quite good immunity response after completing the two doses, despite seropositivity rates and median anti-spike antibody was comparatively higher in Covishield than Covaxin.

Based on the study, the cumulative combined results of Covishield and Covaxin depicted 95 % seropositivity to anti-spike antibody, post 21 – 36 days after completing the dose.

The prime objective of the researchers was to do an analysis of the antibody response after each dose of both the vaccines and its correlation to parameters of age, sex, blood group, body mass index (BMI) along with comorbidities.

The study stated, “While no difference was observed in relation to sex, BMI, blood group and any comorbidities; people over 60 years or age or those with type 2 diabetes had a significantly lower seropositivity rates.”

Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Singh, consultant endocrinologist, GD Hospital and Diabetes Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal headed the research study.

The study conducted, “Breakthrough infections (defined as SARS-CoV-2 infection >2 weeks after the second dose) were reported in 4.9% (24/492) of cases following both vaccines. Breakthrough infections were noted in 5.5% (22/399) cohorts in Covishield and 2.2% (2/93) of Covaxin recipients. Majority had mild (28/30) to moderate (2/30) Covid-19 infections and all recovered.”

The phase II trial results of Covaxin have been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases which depicted enhanced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.

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