A new study on COVID-19 Vaccine Cocktail by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) claims that recipients who received a mix of Covishield and Covaxin doses have greater immunogenicity than two doses of the same vaccine.
ICMR-National Institute of Virology Pune which conducted the study on 18 people data is yet to be peer-reviewed. The Study compared the safety and immunogenicity profile of the individuals against those who received either Covishield or Covaxin (n=40 in each group).
COVAXIN Covishield Cocktail Deliver Better Immunogencity – New ICMR Study
The finding also suggests that immunization with a combination of two different platforms- an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine (Covishield) followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine (Covaxin) was not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity.
Some scientists say that mixing vaccines could make the fight against Covid-19 stronger as mixing doses of different vaccines results in production of a more potent immune response against Covid-19.
Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, a senior vaccinologist told The Indian Express that mixing vaccines could prove more beneficial in case of viral vector vaccines like Covishield. Dr Lahariya explained that the effectiveness of such vaccines reduces substantially in successive doses as the body starts developing antibodies even against the adenovirus used by the vaccine.
Experts View on Mixing COVAXIN , Covishield – Dr. Randeep Guleria
Experts View on Mixing of COVAXIN and Covishield
AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria seconds the move but have some reservations. He said mixing Covid vaccines is a “definite possibility” but more information is needed before a decision can be taken. He added that though we don’t know which combination is better at this time, but initial studies suggest it may be an option.
Amid new variants reported across globe, scientists have highlighted that mixing vaccines could develop a wider and broad-range immune response against different mutations of the virus. Some experts have also suggested that mixing vaccines will be beneficial in fighting shortage as the mixing doses could ease the availability.
