Amid the global pandemic, the priority is to bring down the mortality rate and break the chain of Covid-19's spread. Vaccination is a step towards it, said Dr Sridhar Ryavanki, Health Specialist, UNICEF, on Saturday.
Interacting with the media personnel on the rollout of the vaccine in Chhattisgarh, he said Covishield vaccine has been administered in the state as its government had rejected Covaxin on grounds of non-completion of the third phase of trials.
Asked about the difference between Covishield and Covaxin vaccines, Dr Sridhar said both have been made after following all due processes.
The corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is actually caused by SARS-CoV-2, a type of coronavirus. The vaccine is prepared using different parts of the virus, he pointed out.
He said both vaccines are safe but it is being used for an emergency situation. The virus will remain and so safety measures like hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing must be made a habit.