How Covishield Works?

The human immune system consists of B cells that produce antibodies. These antibodies attack the pathogen and eliminate them from your body. But when a harmful agent is unknown to the cells, a vaccine aids the B cells in fighting the pathogen. This is known as active immunisation. Moreover, vaccines also provide passive immunity against the disease by injecting antibodies from another human or animal.

Vaccines work by administering a safe version of the disease into your body through:

• A dead or inactivated form of the pathogen

• A weakened version of the organism

• A protein or sugar from the pathogen

• A toxin of the organism

Vaccines are usually administered through an injection. They comprise two parts; antigen and an adjuvant. The antigen helps activate the production of antibodies in B cells of the body. While adjuvant in the vaccine helps alarm the body against the antigen and respond more strongly.

The Covishield vaccine is developed by the Jenner Institute of Oxford University and AstraZeneca, therefore, known as the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. In India, it is produced by the Serum Institute. After adequate trials, the vaccine has been administered all over the country in the fight against coronavirus.

Many of you got the Covishield jab to seek protection from the deadly virus, but have you ever wondered — how does the Covishield vaccine work?

The vaccine contains a weakened form of a common cold virus found in chimpanzees, known as adenovirus, along with the genetic material of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The viral vector helps develop an immune response in the body. It helps immune cells produce antibodies against the antigen so that the next time you are attacked by the virus, the cells know the response. It is to be noted that the Covishield vaccine is not a treatment for the virus but a prevention tool. Now that you know how Covishield works, find out how it is administered.

According to experts, the vaccine is to be given in two doses for sufficient immunity against the virus. The vaccine is given in 0.5ml doses with a gap of four to six weeks. However, this may depend on the healthcare provider. The second dose can also be given after twelve weeks, according to research. But if you do not get the second dose because of some reason, get expert advice before getting it. Remember that a second dose of the vaccine is essential to cover you against the deadly virus.

Individuals above eighteen years can get a Covishield jab without consultation from a healthcare provider. But if you have a medical condition, you should consult a doctor before deciding to get the vaccination.

The phase three trials revealed the vaccine has 70% efficacy against the virus. Here are some more benefits of the Covishield vaccine.

• Covishield benefits:

Later research revealed a 79% efficacy in fighting symptomatic COVID-19 cases.
100% prevention of severe symptoms and hospitalisation.
Reduced risk of death due to COVID-19

• Side effects of the Covieshield vaccine

Every vaccine has minor side effects, and the same is with Covishield. They can be:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Swelling and pain in the injected hand
• Fever
• Pain in muscles and joints
• However, some people show rare side effects like:
• Abdominal pain
• Skin rashes
• Sweating in excess
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness
• Enlarged lymph nodes

The vaccine has also shown certain life-threatening impacts, such as major clotting of blood, low platelet counts, and some other severe allergies. So, if you encounter any reactions after the jab, ensure to consult a healthcare expert immediately.

To get vaccinated, you need to register on the CoWIN website or the Arogya Setu portal. The vaccine is provided free of cost at government centres. But you have to pay if you wish to get the vaccine at a private hospital. If you have not received the vaccine yet, you must register on these portals and get vaccinated at the earliest.

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