• Covishield Vaccine has been approved for active immunization of individuals aged 18 years and older for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease that is caused by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2)
• Covishield Vaccine has been developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford university in the UK and is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune
• Successful clinical trials have been conducted in Sout Africa, Brazil, and the UK with bridging study results in the Indian population based on which the approval was granted by DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India).Covishield Vaccine is given as an injection into the muscle of the upper arm
• The vaccination course consists of two separate doses, given 4 to 6 weeks apart
• Taking just a single dose is not enough as it is insufficient to produce a protective level of antibodies in the body to prevent the infection
• So make sure you turn up for the second dose for maximum benefits.
• The possible side effects of Covishield Vaccine include reactions at the site of injection (such as pain, swelling, and redness), headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, malaise (general discomfort), fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms
• Most of these side effects are mild and temporary (subside within 2-3 days) that subside on their own
• If required, you may take paracetamol to provide symptomatic relief
• However, if these persist (symptoms continue beyond 2-3 days) or get worse, let the doctor know
• To make sure the vaccine is safe, before receiving the vaccine, it is important to let your doctor or vaccinator know if you have any other illnesses, history of any allergy, fever, or bleeding disorders
• You should also tell the doctor about all the medicines you are taking, especially blood thinners or any medicines affecting your immune system
• Children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers have not been a part of the vaccine trials
• Therefore, they should not get the vaccine at this time as the safety of the medicine for them is still not known
• Also, individuals who have received another COVID-19 vaccine should not receive Covishield Vaccine.

Uses of Covishield Vaccine

• In Prevention of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Covishield Vaccine is used for preventing COVID-19 infection
• Moreover, even if you get infected, Covishield Vaccine may help reduce the severity of that infection
• However, make sure to complete the entire dosing schedule of Covishield Vaccine
• Additionally, take all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety, such as wearing a face mask, avoiding crowded places, washing your hands at regular intervals, and maintaining social distancing whenever and wherever possible.

Missed Doses

If you miss a dose of Covishield Vaccine, please consult your doctor.

Frequestly asked Questions

Can Covishield Vaccine be given to children?

Covishield Vaccine trials for children are still underway. So, enough evidence is not available to recommend its use in children yet. This is because the morbidity and mortality rate is higher in the older population, particularly those older than 50 years of age. Both the available vaccines, Covishield Vaccine as well as Covaxin have not been studied for safety and effectiveness in the children/pediatric population so far. Therefore, it is advised not to give any COVID-19 vaccine to children till we have enough data available.

I am a COVID-19 frontline worker and I got vaccinated already. When will my family members get vaccinated?

As per government of India guidelines, all the COVID-19 frontline workers will get vaccinated on priority. However, the other family members of these people will be vaccinated according to the age-specific prioritization by the Government of India.

I already got infected with COVID-19 once. Do I still need to get vaccinated?

Yes. People who have already been infected with COVID-19 should still get vaccinated unless told otherwise by their healthcare provider. Even if you’ve had a previous infection, the vaccine acts as a booster that strengthens the immune response. There have also been some cases of people getting re-infected with COVID-19, which makes getting vaccinated even more important.

What is the dosing schedule of Covishield Vaccine?

As per the permission granted by the Drug Controller General (India), the second dose of Covishield Vaccine is to be administered 4-12 weeks after the first dose.

Does vaccination with Covishield Vaccine protect me against newer strains/mutated versions of COVID-19 virus?

Yes. All vaccines are expected to provide a reasonable amount of protection against the newer strains/mutated versions of the COVID-19 virus also. The body responds to vaccination by making more than one type of antibodies, that effectively destroy the virus. Based on the currently available data, the mutations as reported, are unlikely to make the vaccine ineffective and protect an individual against COVID-19 effectively.

Which vaccine is better, Covishield Vaccine or Covaxin?

There is no comparison done between the two, Covishield Vaccine or Covaxin being used in India, so one cannot say which is better. Both the vaccines are effective in preventing the COVID-19 infection in all who take it, particularly, elderly people or those who have comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure).

In how many days will Covishield Vaccine create an adequate amount of antibodies to protect me against COVID-19?

It usually takes 2-3 weeks after completion of the entire vaccination schedule, i.e., after the second dose of Covishield Vaccine or Covaxin, whichever has been administered to you.

What are the expected side effects of Covishield Vaccine?

Covishield Vaccine may show mild side effects like injection site tenderness or pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia (muscle pain), malaise, fever, chills, joint pain, and nausea. Very rarely, a few events of demyelinating disorders have been reported following vaccination with this vaccine but without the causal relationship establishment.

Who should not take Covishield Vaccine?

Individuals with a history of anaphylactic or allergic reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine or any injectable therapies, pharmaceutical products, food items, etc, should not take Covishield Vaccine. Additionally, pregnant and lactating women have not been part of any COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial so far. Therefore, women who are pregnant or not sure of their pregnancy and lactating (breastfeeding) women should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine at this time. However, consult your doctor if you are not sure.

Common and Known Side effects of Covishield Vaccine

• Injection site reactions (pain
• swelling
• redness)
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Feeling of discomfort
• Fever
• Chills
• Flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue