Mumbai: 8 doctors opt for Covaxin over Serum Institute's Covishield

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Eight doctors of the Mumbai region took shots of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on Wednesday at JJ Hospital instead of Serum Institute's Covishield.

The authorities who have struggled to persuade potential recipients to take Covaxin welcomed this development and have even planned to organise voluntary walk-ins for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin as long as the name of the recipient is registered on the CoWin app, reports Times of India.

However, this facility may not be availed by those who have been allotted Covishield but want to receive Covaxin.

Amongst those that opted for Covaxin on Wednesday have been a gynaecologist, his pediatrician spouse and their medical intern son, two ophthalmologists, a port wellbeing official and an essential care doctor from Panvel.

Dr Vivek Giri, the port wellbeing officer mentioned he opted for Covaxin as he is assured of the expertise which makes use of an inactivated virus and that it might deal with mutated strains.

Panvel-based essential care physician Dr Supriya Sahasrabudhe mentioned the time-tested technology has labored in hepatitis and rotavirus vaccines. "I had the selection to take Covishield, however, I wished Covaxin," she added.

Goregaon-based gynaecologist Dr Sudhir Naik, his spouse and son also took Covaxin. "Until night, I had no ache on the injection web site or fever," Dr Naik said. One other recipient mentioned his spouse took Covishield, however he selected Covaxin.

Dean of JJ Dr Ranjit Mankeshwar said it was encouraging that doctors have been eager on Covaxin. "We shall be prepared to offer it to anyone desirous to take it voluntarily even when they aren't part of the JJ group," he mentioned.

It is to be noted that Covaxin's acceptability is lower that Covishield's among the personal staffers of JJ Hospital.