Coronavirus: 0.04% people infected after COVAXIN shot; 0.03% after Covishield
The central government on Wednesday said that a "very small" fraction of people have tested positive for COVID-19 after being vaccinated. The government said that only 0.04% of people who received a COVAXIN shot contracted COVID-19, and 0.03% of people tested positive after receiving a Covishield shot. Even upon infection, the vaccine helped prevent a serious case of COVID-19, the government added.
1.1 crore people administered COVAXIN
According to data released by the government, COVAXIN—developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech—has been administered to 1.1 crore people across India. 93.5 lakh people (93,56,436) received the first dose of the vaccine and 4,208 people among them (0.04%) tested positive for COVID-19. 17.3 lakh people (17,37,178) received the second dose of the vaccine and 695 people among them (0.04%) tested positive.
11.6 crore people received Covishield shot
Covishield—developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India—has been administered to 11.6 crore people across India. 10 crore people (10,03,02,745) received the first dose of the vaccine and 17,145 people among them (0.02%) tested positive for COVID-19. 1.5 crore people (1,57,32,754) received the second dose of the vaccine and 5,014 people among them (0.03%) tested positive.
'Number of people getting infected post-vaccination very low'
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Dr. Balram Bhargava said, "Only two-four people per 10,000 population are being infected with COVID-19 post-vaccination." NITI Aayog (Health) member Dr. VK Paul said the number of people getting infected post-vaccination is "very low" adding, "Even if people are getting infected after vaccination, it is not taking us to the path of severe disease."
Sufficient antibodies developed 10-15 days after second dose
Covishield has an efficacy of around 70% while COVAXIN has an interim efficacy of 81% in its Phase III trials. According to experts, sufficient antibodies are generated only 10-15 days after an individual is administered both vaccine doses. Notably, the government has not released data on the number of days between a person contracting COVID-19 post-vaccination and when they received the vaccine.
