Madison Clarke
India is the world's largest vaccine producer, but the nation has faced challenges in ensuring sufficient vaccine supply for its own population. India has approved nine COVID-19 vaccines, five of which are locally made, with Covishield (the local name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine) and Covaxin being the most widely used. The United States, on the other hand, has authorized a range of vaccines, including those produced by Pfizer and Moderna, which are also approved for use in India. While both countries have approved and utilized different combinations of vaccines, the specific vaccines deployed in each country may vary depending on various factors such as supply, demand, and local regulations.
Vaccines in India vs America
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccines in India | Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Corbevax |
| Vaccines in America | Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson |
| Vaccines for children in India | Covaxin |
| Vaccines for children in America | Pfizer, Moderna |
| Vaccines for travel to India | Yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis |
| Vaccines for travel to America | Yellow fever |
| Vaccine production in India | Indian pharmaceutical industry offers lessons for building vaccine-production capacity in developing countries |
| Vaccine production in America | N/A |
| Vaccine cost in India | Free |
| Vaccine cost in America | Free |
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What You'll Learn
India's approved COVID-19 vaccines
India has approved nine Covid-19 vaccines, five of which have been locally made. However, only two have been widely used. The country started administering Covid-19 vaccines on 16 January 2021. As of 4 March 2023, India has administered over 2.2 billion doses, including first, second, and precautionary (booster) jabs. 95% of the eligible population (12+) in India has received at least one shot, and 88% of the eligible population (12+) is fully vaccinated.
The four vaccines currently being used in India are Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, and Corbevax. Covishield, also known as the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, accounts for over 81% of the doses administered in the country so far. It is manufactured under license by the Serum Institute of India. Covaxin, developed by Indian firm Bharat Biotech, is an inactivated vaccine made up of killed coronaviruses, making it safe to inject into the body. It is India's first needle-free Covid-19 jab, administered with a disposable needle-free injector. Sputnik V, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, initially generated controversy as it was rolled out before the final trial data was released. However, scientists say its benefits have now been demonstrated. The vaccine uses a cold-type virus, engineered to be harmless, to deliver a small fragment of the coronavirus to the body. Corbevax is also currently being administered to children in the 12–14 age group.
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Covishield and Covaxin
India's vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 was launched on January 13, 2021, with the administration of two types of vaccines: Covishield and Covaxin. Covishield, also known as the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, is an adenovirus vector-based vaccine. It is made from a weakened version of the common cold virus (adenovirus) from chimpanzees, modified to resemble the coronavirus. Covaxin, developed by the Indian company Bharat Biotech, is an inactivated vaccine composed of adjuvanted inactivated viral particles. It is made up of killed coronaviruses, making it safe for injection.
Short-term adverse events have been observed with both vaccines, but these are generally mild and short-lived. Local tenderness was the most common adverse effect after the first dose of Covaxin, while fever was the most common after the first dose of Covishield. Longitudinal studies have been conducted to evaluate the occurrence of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and to assess factors associated with these adverse effects. These studies help to increase knowledge about vaccine safety and accelerate the vaccination process.
Covaxin has also been approved as India's first needle-free Covid-19 jab, administered with a disposable needle-free injector. This method delivers the jab through a narrow stream of fluid that penetrates the skin and reaches the proper tissue.
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Vaccine production in India
India has approved nine Covid vaccines, five of which have been locally made. The country has administered over 2.2 billion doses overall, including first, second, and precautionary (booster) doses of the currently approved vaccines. 95% of the eligible population (12+) has received at least one shot, and 88% of the eligible population (12+) is fully vaccinated.
The country's vaccine-producing companies rely on the surrounding bioscience ecosystem. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the top organization in charge. Approvals must adhere to ICMR's good clinical practice (GCP) and ethical standards. The DCGI is the regulatory body that makes decisions regarding a drug's efficacy and safety. It has the power to provide an EUA to a vaccination or drug upon having evidence that it may benefit people.
India's success in vaccine production is also driven by demand. The country's population has quadrupled since 1947, and the government has covered the cost of basic immunization through the Universal Immunization Program, providing companies with a large, reliable market. The creation of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in 1986 advanced the ecosystem for vaccine production. The DBT provided financial and other support to vaccine development and manufacturing that used new technologies and created biotech training programs.
The success of pharmaceutical companies like Cipla, Biological E, and the Serum Institute of India, which became one of the world's largest vaccine manufacturers, also contributed to India's vaccine production capabilities. Some firms produced raw materials, known as active pharmaceutical ingredients, so that other companies need not rely on imported production inputs.
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Vaccine distribution in India
India has approved nine Covid vaccines, five of which have been locally made. Only two have been widely used: Covishield and Covaxin. Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, accounts for over 81% of the doses given so far. Covaxin, by Indian firm Bharat Biotech, is an inactivated vaccine made up of killed coronaviruses. Sputnik V, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, is another vaccine that has been approved for use in India. Sputnik V uses a cold-type virus, engineered to be harmless, as a carrier to deliver a small fragment of the coronavirus to the body. India has also approved Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine, and authorised Indian pharma company Cipla to import the Moderna vaccine.
India's vaccination programme began on 16 January 2021, with 3,006 vaccination centres offering either Covishield or Covaxin. Citizens above the age of 12 can book appointments through the COWIN platform or do a Walk-In registration on-site. All government-run vaccination centres provide free vaccines, while private centres charge a fee.
India has also undertaken a humanitarian initiative, Vaccine Maitri ("Vaccine Friendship"), to provide COVID-19 vaccines to countries around the world. As of 21 February 2022, India had delivered around 162.9 million doses of vaccines to 96 countries.
The Indian pharmaceutical industry has important lessons to offer for building vaccine-production capacity in developing countries. India's success as the world's largest vaccine producer is built on a foundation laid by the British colonial government, which established institutes such as the Pasteur Institute of India and the Haffkine Institute for Training, Research & Testing. After independence, the central government prioritised domestic drug and vaccine manufacturing, leading to the development of a legion of highly trained Indian chemists and biologists. India's experience in expanding global vaccine production can inform efforts in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to develop domestic vaccine production.
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Vaccine hesitancy in India
India has approved nine Covid vaccines, five of which have been locally made. Only two have been widely used: Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, and Corbevax. Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, accounts for over 81% of the doses given so far. Covaxin, by Indian firm Bharat Biotech, is an inactivated vaccine made up of killed coronaviruses.
Despite the success of India's vaccination program, a significant proportion of the adult population remains unvaccinated or has only received one dose. Vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier, with health workers facing resistance from people who believe that vaccines are ineffective and cause serious side effects. A nationwide study conducted in December 2020 found that more than a fifth of participants were either unaware of the vaccines (20.63%) or unsure if they would get vaccinated (27%), and 10% refused to get vaccinated. Another study in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, between July and September 2022, found approximately 12% vaccine hesitancy among the selected participants. This study also found that vaccine hesitancy was higher among older individuals (over 40 years of age) and married individuals.
The top two factors contributing to hesitancy in India are the desire to "wait and see if [the vaccine] is safe and get it later," indicated by 45% of respondents who did not want the vaccine, and the belief that "other people need it more than I do right now," indicated by 37% of respondents. A negative attitude toward the vaccine has been shown to be the root cause of vaccine hesitancy in India.
To address vaccine hesitancy, the Government of India has launched campaigns to provide information about vaccine safety and efficacy and counter the "wait and see" approach. These campaigns have improved attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, with many people expressing national pride that India produced its own vaccine. Campaigns emphasizing social norms and featuring diverse messengers, including healthcare workers and parents, have been the most effective in improving attitudes.
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Frequently asked questions
India has approved nine Covid vaccines, five of which have been locally made. Only two have been widely used: Covishield (the local name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the UK) and Covaxin, locally made by Bharat Biotech. So, the vaccines in India are not the same as in America.
Other approved vaccines include Sputnik V, Corbevax, Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine, and Moderna.
Covishield, or the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, is made from a weakened version of a common cold adenovirus from chimpanzees. It has been modified to look like coronavirus but cannot cause illness. Covaxin, on the other hand, is an inactivated vaccine made up of killed coronaviruses, making it safe to inject.
India is the world's largest vaccine producer, but it is facing a shortage of raw materials to manufacture vaccines for its own population. As of June 2021, only 4% of Indians were vaccinated.
India's vaccine rollout has faced criticism due to problems with registration and booking appointments, especially for those without smartphones or internet access. There have also been issues with supply shortages and mixed messages about the pandemic, giving the public a false sense of security.
