Covishield vaccine produces more antibodies than Covaxin, according to a study carried out on Indian health care workers (HCW), who have received both the doses of either of the two vaccines.
As per the preprint version of the Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) study, antibody response (seropositivity rate and median [inter-quartile range, IQR) antibody titre) was significantly higher in Covishield as compared to Covaxin.
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The study was carried out by eminent medical professionals from Kolkata, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Jharkhand.
Among the 515 HCW including 305 male and 210 female, 95.0% showed seropositivity after two doses of both the Covid19 vaccines. Of the 425 recipients of Covishield and 90 recipients of Covaxin, 98.1% and 80.0% respectively, showed seropositivity, the study said.
However, both the seropositivity rate and median (IQR) increase in the anti-spike antibody was significantly higher in the Covishield versus Covaxin recipients (98.1 versus 80.0%; 127.0 versus 53 AU/mL; both p<0.001), the study added.
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According to the study, both vaccines elicited good immune response after two doses, although seropositivity rates and median anti-spike antibody titre was significantly higher in Covishield compared to Covaxin arm.
The COVAT study is an ongoing, pan-India, cross-sectional study that was approved by the ethical committee of Thakershy Charitable Trust in Ahmedabad.
“To the best of our knowledge, this Pan-India cross-sectional COVAT study would be the first of its kind that has involved HCW from 13 States and 22 cities and reporting anti-spike antibody kinetics after two completed doses of two different vaccines,” the study said.
As per the study, combined results of both the Covid19 vaccines showed 95% seropositivity to anti-spike
antibody, 21-36 days after the second completed dose.
Gender, presence of comorbidities and the type of vaccine received were independent predictors of antibody response after the second dose, the study observed.