DCGI accepts proposal to study mixing of Covid-19 vaccine doses

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has accepted a proposal that a research be conducted to analyse mixing a dose each of the two vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Covaxin and Covishield, Hindustan Times’ sister publication Live Hindustan has reported, citing India Today. The Subjects Experts Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had, on July 29, recommended that a study be conducted in this regard at Christian Medical College (CMC) in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore.

The proposed trial will see 300 volunteers being administered a dose each of Covaxin and Covishield.

The study will aim to determine whether two different vaccine doses could be administered for a person to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease, instead of the existing practice of administering twin shots of the same vaccine.

The proposed study, however, is different from a recent research conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which concluded that combining two different shots is “safe and effective.” The ICMR research had analysed an “accidental” mixing of Covishield and Covaxin in a village in Uttar Pradesh, in May. The incident saw recipients being administered Covaxin as second dose, six weeks after they received Covishield as first. On analysing this, the ICMR found that “combining two different Covid-19 vaccines gives better immune response than two doses of the same vaccine.”

Experts, including Dr Gagandeep Kang, the country’s top virologist, see combining two different vaccines as a way to tackle vaccine shortage, though they also warn that more studies are needed to reach a definitive conclusion to determine the efficacy of this method in preventing Covid-19. Dr Kang, incidentally, is a professor at CMC Vellore.

Medically Speaking Team

Recent Posts

“Discover the Power of Avocado: Essential Health Benefits You Can’t Miss!”

Avocado For Health: Do you know that eating not one or two, but many fruits…

5 mins ago

Watch Video: Discover the Health-Boosting Power of This Super Vegetable – A Natural Remedy for Cancer and Cholesterol

This vegetable, once considered the world's most powerful, is a cheap remedy for ailments ranging…

9 mins ago

BRAHMI TEA: ELEVATE YOUR COGNITIVE FUNCTION, SHARPEN FOCUS, AND NOURISH BRAIN HEALTH NATURALLY

As our modern lifestyles grow increasingly fast-paced, mental clarity, focus, and memory retention have become…

13 mins ago

“Staying Up Late? Discover the Hidden Health Risks You Can’t Afford to Ignore!”

Explore the serious health risks associated with staying up late, from anxiety and cognitive decline…

13 mins ago

“RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Hospitalized Due to Acidity, Health Stable After Observation”

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was recently hospitalized after experiencing chest pain,…

16 mins ago

“5 Powerful Morning Drinks to Burn Belly Fat Fast and Boost Your Metabolism”

5 Morning Drinks to Burn Belly Fat Fast Belly fat is one of the most…

25 mins ago