MUST READ: Health Ministry rolls out comparative factsheet for Covaxin, Covishield, states Precautions, contraindications
New Delhi: With the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines across the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has rolled out a comparative factsheet for both Covishield and Covaxin that contains information on the vaccine platform, physical specifications, dosage, cold chain storage requirements, contraindications, and minor AEFIs.
Further, a detailed note on contraindications and special precautions have also been prepared.
The information and documents prepared will be disseminated to the Programme Managers across all levels and through them to cold chain handlers and vaccinators for ready reference.
Precautions and Contraindications for COVID-19 Vaccination
1. Authorized Age Group: Under the EUA, COVID-19 vaccination is indicated only for 18 years and above.
2. Co-administration of vaccines: If required, the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines should be separated by an interval of at least 14 days
3. Interchangeability of COVID-19 Vaccines is not permitted: The second dose should also be of the same COVID-19 vaccine which was administered as the first dose.
Contraindication
1. Persons with a history of:
• Anaphylactic or allergic reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• Immediate or delayed-onset anaphylaxis or allergic reaction to vaccines or injectable therapies, pharmaceutical products, food items, etc.
2. Pregnancy & Lactation:
• Pregnant & 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 women should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine at this time Provisional/temporary contraindications: In these conditions, COVID vaccination is to be deferred for 4-8 weeks after recovery
1. Persons having active symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
2. SARS-COV-2 patients who have been given anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma
3. Acutely unwell and hospitalized (with or without intensive care) patients due to any illness
Provisional/temporary contraindications: In these conditions, COVID vaccination is to be deferred for 4-8 weeks after recovery
1. Persons having active symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
2. SARS-COV-2 patients who have been given anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma
3. Acutely unwell and hospitalized (with or without intensive care) patients due to any illness
Special precautions:
The vaccine should be administered with caution in persons with a history of any bleeding or coagulation disorder (e.g., clotting factor deficiency, coagulopathy or platelet disorder).
Following conditions are not contraindicated for COVID vaccines
• Persons with a past history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (seropositivity) and or RT- PCR positive illness
• History of chronic diseases and morbidities (cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, metabolic, renal, malignancies)
• Immuno-deficiency, HIV, patients on immune-suppression due to any condition (the response to the COVID 19 vaccines may be less in these individuals)
Other Important Issues to consider
• Vaccine specific contraindications may apply as the new information becomes available
Comparative Sheet for different Covid-19 vaccines, under Indian Government supply
| Indicator | COVISHIELD | COVAXIN |
| Type of Vaccine | Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine based on Viral Vector Technology | Whole-Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine |
| No. of doses in each vial | 10 | 20 |
| Shelf life | 6 months | 6 months |
| Expiry date available on the vial | Yes | Yes |
| Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM) | Not Available | Not Available |
| Route | Intramuscular (IM) Injectable | Intramuscular (IM) Injectable |
| Physical Appearance of Vaccine | Clear to slightly opaque, colorless to slightly brown | Whitish translucent |
| Dose | 0.5 ml each dose | 0.5 ml each dose |
| Course | 2-doses | 2-doses |
| Schedule | 4-weeks apart | 4-weeks apart |
| Vaccination during Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Vaccination < 18 years of age | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Vaccination to Lactating mother | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Storage and transportation | +2°C to +8°C at all levels | +2°C to +8°C at all levels |
| Cold chain storage space in second packaging | 2.109 cm3 | 1.7187 cm3 |
| Shake test | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Open Vial Policy | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Freeze Sensitive | Yes | Yes |
| Discard the vaccine vial, if found | 'frozen' or 'frozen and thawed' | 'frozen' or 'frozen and thawed' |
| Discard the vial, if | Solution is discolored or visible particles are observed | Presence of particulate matter or other coloration |
|
AEFI
AEFI Other
Any other instruction
| Some mild AEFI may occur like injection site tenderness, injection site pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills and arthralgia, nausea
Paracetamol may be used to provide symptomatic relief from post- vaccination adverse reactions very rare events of demyelinating disorders have been reported following vaccination with this vaccine without the casual relationship establishment
As with other intramuscular injections COVISHIELD should be given with caution to individuals with thrombocytopenia | Some mild AEFIs may occur like injection site pain, headache, fatigue, fever, body ache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting dizziness-giddiness, tremor, sweating, cold cough and injection site swelling
Shake well, before use Use of Chloroquine and Corticosteroids may impair antibody response.
|
Packaging details —
| Packaging Details | Doses COVISHIELD | Doses COVAXIN | Dimension COVISHIELD | Dimension COVISHIELD | Total Volume COVISHIELD
| Total Volume COVISHIELD |
| Primary | 10 | 10 |
|
| 21.09 cm' | 34.37 cm3
|
| Secondary | 500 | 320 | L-18.5 cm, W-9.5cm, H- 6 cm | L- 10 cm, W- 10 cm, H-5.5 cm | 1053 cm3 | 550 cm3
|
| Tertiary | 3,000 | 7680 | L-31 cm, W-19 | L- 41 cm, W- 20 cm, H- 18 cm | 7833 cm3 | 14760 cm3
|
| Quaternary (A)*
| 12,000 | Not Applicable | L-57.9 cm, W- 46.4 cm, H-37cm | Not Applicable | 99402 cm3 | Not Applicable |
| Quaternary (B)*
| 12,000 | Not Applicable | L-60 cm, W-48 cm, H-41cm | Not Applicable | 1,18,080 cm3 | Not Applicable |
To view the official notice click on the following link:
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