Amidst concerns about potential rare side effects linked to the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Bharat Biotech, the creator of Covaxin, emphasized in a statement their unwavering dedication to prioritizing safety above all else in the development of their vaccine. They underscored that Covaxin was the exclusive COVID-19 vaccine in India’s government immunization program to undergo efficacy trials within the country itself.
In a social media post, Bharat Biotech highlighted that the genesis of Covaxin was marked by a singular commitment to ensuring safety, closely followed by efficacy considerations. Notably, during the COVID-19 outbreak in India, Covishield and Covaxin were the primary vaccines administered.
Further expanding upon their statement, Bharat Biotech revealed that Covaxin underwent meticulous evaluation involving over 27,000 individuals as part of its licensing process. It was authorized for restricted use under clinical trial mode, which involved comprehensive safety monitoring for a substantial number of participants.
The safety assessment of Covaxin also underwent scrutiny by the Ministry of Health, Government of India, with continuous pharmacovigilance activities throughout its deployment. All conducted studies and safety monitoring efforts consistently showcased an exemplary safety profile for Covaxin, with no reported incidents of vaccine-related complications such as blood clots, thrombocytopenia, or cardiac issues.
Emphasizing their unwavering commitment to safety, Bharat Biotech stressed that while the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines might diminish over time, ensuring patient safety remains their topmost priority, reflecting the core principles guiding their vaccine development endeavours.
These statements come in the wake of recent acknowledgements by AstraZeneca regarding rare instances of Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) associated with their COVID-19 vaccines. The company reiterated their dedication to patient safety, reaffirming their adherence to stringent regulatory standards governing vaccine usage.
Separately, the Serum Institute of India produces Covishield, a COVID-19 vaccine formulated using a viral vector platform instead of mRNA technology. Covishield utilizes a modified chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells, priming the immune system without inducing illness.