Contributed by: Dr. Ashok Tamhankar & Dr. Nishtha Khatri
Currently two vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization in India: Oxford/AZ- ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, marketed as COVISHIELD and Bharat Biotech (BBV152) marketed as Covaxin. The COVID-19 vaccination drive in India began on January 16th, 2021, with the initial beneficiaries consisting of Healthcare workers followed by frontline workers. On 1st March, the vaccination drive was further extended to senior citizens.In the last few days several controversies arose in relation to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine . Now it seems that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine’s rollercoaster ride of a week might be coming to a welcome end. As per the company's announcement, a key phase III clinical trial found the vaccine to be 76% effective at preventing COVID-19. This announcement was made on 25th March, two days after the company was accused of misrepresenting interim results that reported a slightly higher efficacy figure of 79%. Scientists hope the controversy will not cause lasting damage to the vaccine’s reputation. “Overall, it’s a win for the world,” says vaccine scientist Ann Falsey, an investigator on the trial who co-developed its protocol.
