Covishield or Covaxin! Which vaccine holds better efficacy? Odisha official clears air

Bhubaneswar: Amidst confusion over effectiveness of two COVID-19 vaccines currently administered to beneficiaries in Odisha, the State Health Director today cleared the air.

“Covishield and Covaxin are effective and safe. Both have potential to protect the body from Coronavirus infection by developing antibody. Therefore, there should be no doubt over effectiveness of both the vaccines,” said Health & Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi.

Speaking to reporters, he said that the vaccines will be best effective only after receiving two doses.

“A beneficiary can get the results after getting administered two doses of any (Covishield or Covaxin) vaccine in a prescribed period of gap. The antibody will be developed after two weeks of the second dose of the jab,” Panigrahi said.

So far, 55,50,380 doses of vaccines have been given to the beneficiaries in Odisha. The vaccination programme has been suspended for today and tomorrow due to weekend shutdown in all urban areas.

“The vaccination programme is underway across the State. However, it will remain off on weekends due to shutdown. During the period, the vaccination centres will be sanitised,” he said.

Ruling out the reports of closure of vaccination centres, the health official said that the massive inoculation drive is being carried out five days a week in the State including western Odisha districts.

“There is no question on closing the vaccination centres due to shortage of vaccine. The vaccination is underway and we are sending the vaccines to the western Odisha districts on a priority basis,” Panigrahi said.

Currently, the State has 1 lakh Covishield and 3.7 lakh Covaxin vaccines in stock. The Centre will send additional 1 lakh Covishield today.

“After receiving 1 lkah Covishield from Centre, the State will have 2 lakh Covishields, which will be exhausted in two days. However, we are ensuring beneficiaries to get shots to be protected from the virus,” he added.