New Delhi : A study by Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) suggested that recipients who received a mix of Covishield and Covaxin doses gave better immunogenicity than two doses of the same vaccine.The study was conducted on 18 people by the ICMR-National Institute of Virology Pune and is yet to be peer-reviewed. The Study compared the safety and immunogenicity profile of the individuals against those who received either Covishield or Covaxin (n=40 in each group).

The finding also suggests that immunization with a combination of two different platforms- an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine (Covishield) followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine (Covaxin) was not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity.

Some scientists say that mixing vaccines could make the fight against Covid-19 stronger as mixing doses of different vaccines results in production of a more potent immune response against Covid-19.

DrChandrakantLahariya, a senior vaccinologist told The Indian Express that mixing vaccines could prove more beneficial in case of viral vector vaccines like Covishield. DrLahariya explained that the effectiveness of such vaccines reduces substantially in successive doses as the body starts developing antibodies even against the adenovirus used by the vaccine.Earlier in July, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had recommended mixing vaccine doses. It had recommended that permission be granted to Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, for conducting a clinical trial on mixing of Covaxin and Covishield, sources toldHowever, the government in the parliament, earlier this month, said that national expert bodies have so far made no recommendation on mixing Covid-19 vaccines.