Benefits of Getting Covishield Vaccine

2020 has been a very difficult year for the entire human population; the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we look at things and our daily routines. With online classes and Work from home options, everything has shifted into the virtual world.

The COVID-19 pandemic in its wake has around 96 million cases reported and left around 2 million dead worldwide. At one point it seemed as if this could perhaps be the doom ancient Mayans predicted, but now humanity is slowly regaining its hope with news of successful vaccines spreading all over.

It is with great pride that we at Medisellers India report that India is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, rolling out two vaccines Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharath Biotech’s Covaxin.

With stage one of vaccination underway, it is quite common for us to have doubts about the vaccine, hence in this article, we will be going through everything you need to know about the SII’s Covishield.

What is Covishield?

Covishield is a vaccine developed to fight the novel CoronaVirus that is manufactured by Serum Institute of India and is licensed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca. It has been granted permission to be used in India as an emergency response to halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Serum Institute of India is preparing to produce about 1 billion Covishield vaccines, that will be distributed among developing countries including India. 

The vaccine is administered by intramuscular injection. Tests have shown that when given two doses of the vaccine one month apart, the vaccine is 90% efficient. It has been legally approved by various countries like the UK, Argentina, Bangladesh, Mexico, Nepal, and Brazil. 

The vaccine contains a weakened strain of a common cold virus found in chimpanzees. This strain is encoded with instructions to produce proteins from the novel coronavirus, thus causing an immune response. The Covishield vaccine is easier to transport and store as the vaccine needs only 2 to 8 degrees celsius to stay active.

What are the ingredients of Covishield?

Covishield vaccine contains the following:

• L-Histadine
• L-Histadine hydrochloride monohydrate
• Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate
• Sodium Chloride
• Polysorbate
• Disodium Edetate dihydrate
• Ethanol
• Sucrose

The Serum Institute has announced that you should not take the vaccine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

Dosage and Administration

Covishield vaccination course consists of two 0.5 ml doses. The second dose should be administered 4 to 6 weeks after the first dosage. Taking both doses is vital to improving the efficacy of the vaccine, thus protecting you from COVID-19.

If you miss your second dosage, contact your medical provider right away. Studies show that a second dosage may be effective even if taken within 12 weeks after the first dosage.

The manufacturers say that once the second dosage has been administered, a protective immune response can be expected in about 4 weeks.

What to disclose to the vaccine administrators?

Before they administer the vaccine you should mention:

• History of any allergic reactions to any drugs, food, vaccine, or any ingredient of the Covishield.
• If you have a fever.
• If you have any blood-related problems such as thin blood or bleeding disorders.
• If you consume any medicines that affect your immunity.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant.
• Or if you have received any other vaccinations for COVID-19.

You should not get the vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

Side Effects of Covishield vaccine

Covishield has a number of side-effects like any other vaccine, these include:

• Tenderness, pain, redness, discomfort, itching, or swelling around the area of administration.
• Feeling unwell
• Fatigue
• Feeling feverish or having chills
• Headache, nausea
• Joint or body pain
• Lump at the site of injection
• Flu-like symptoms

These are common side effects of the Covishield vaccine found in almost 1 out of every 10 people. However, these side effects are temporary and should go away with adequate rest.

Some not so common side effects are:

• Dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Excessive sweating, itchiness, or rashes
• Enlarged lymph nodes

If you seem to have these uncommon side effects or if your other symptoms seem to persist contact your doctor immediately.

Should you get the Covishield vaccine?

Taking the vaccine is totally a personal choice. The fact that there are no other severe side effects apart from the above-listed ones might be a good reason to take the vaccine.

The vaccines are a ray of hope for humanity, that we can return to our normal routines, go back to our work or schools or colleges without wearing a mask or being worried about going into public. Taking the Covishield vaccine could help us get there by halting Coronavirus for good.

Where can you get the Covishield vaccine from?

The Government of India is conducting a maha-vaccination drive to help the vaccines reach the people who need them the most. To get your vaccines to contact your nearest administrative authority.