In what could be a breakthrough in the vaccination programme, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has said that a study has suggested that mixing and matching of COVID-19 vaccines -- Covaxin and Covishield -- show better results.
¡°Study on mixing & matching of COVID vaccines, Covaxin & Covishield shows better results,¡± said ICMR.?
¡°Immunisation with combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine followed by inactivated whole virus vaccine was not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity,¡± said the study.
Earlier, the ICMR said that Bharat Biotech¡¯s coronavirus vaccine Covaxin is effective against the Delta Plus variant of the SARS CoV2 virus.
The study was, however, yet to be peer-reviewed.
Some earlier studies have suggested that mixing two COVID-19 vaccines from two different manufacturers can have provided better protection, the WHO is warning against the practice.
World Health Organisation (WHO) chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has said that mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers is a "dangerous trend" and could lead to chaos as there is limited data on it.
Addressing a COVID-19 media briefing, Swaminathan said, "Really want to caution folks, because there is a tendency now for people in countries with enough availability of vaccines to voluntarily start thinking."
Several European countries including the UK have been seriously considering mixing Pfizer and Moderna vaccine shots as both are mRNA-based.