ICMR to examine effectiveness of AstraZeneca's, SII's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin from next week

In the first of its kind study since the launch of AstraZeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin in the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will conduct a survey from next week to examine the effectiveness of these vaccines in preventing the progression of Covid into a severe form.

Around 4,000 people above the age of 45 years who have taken either one or both doses of any of these two vaccines will be reviewed, according to Dr Tarun Bhatnagar, senior scientist at ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) in Chennai.

"As a part of the study we will



take people who are COVID-19 positive and hospitalised and compare their vaccination status with those who have tested Covid negative," Bhatnagar told PTI.

"The aim is to assess how effective vaccination is in preventing progression of the disease into a severe form," he said.

Noting that this is first of its kind study since the launch of these vaccines in the country and used in India's inoculation drive, Bhatnagar said the survey is expected to be undertaken from next week.

The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 20 crore so far.