India's Covaxin is more effective than the Pfizer vaccine against the Delta variant.

Statistical data shows the Pfizer vaccine is more effective than Covaxin. Experts suggest that it is not fair to compare vaccines by their efficacy.

Statistical data shows the Pfizer vaccine is more effective than Covaxin. Experts suggest that it is not fair to compare vaccines by their efficacy.The emergence of new COVID-19 variants has raised questions about the efficacy of the available vaccines against the infection. The Delta variant, first detected in India, has now spread to most parts of the world and is considered a threat even as countries worldwide have made gradual progress in vaccinating their population.

Covaxin is an inactivated whole virus vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech in India, which has shown positive results with an overall vaccine efficacy of 77.8 percent against symptomatic infections. The vaccine conferred 65.2 percent protection against the Delta variant after the second dose. Whereas Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine is 79 percent effective against the Delta variant.

However, comparing efficacy between vaccines is impossible as the trial methodology followed will be different for each vaccine. Different manufacturers use different viral strains as a base to conduct their vaccine research and develop the vaccine. Furthermore, judging vaccine efficacy is difficult and can be determined only when compared head to head as several other factors need to be considered. Nonetheless, each of the available vaccines is approved by the regulatory authorities in the respective countries or regions as these vaccines have shown considerable effectiveness based on the extensive study and analysis conducted by them. Thus, it would be unfair to compare two vaccines based on their efficacy on the newly emerging COVID-19 variant like the delta variant.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.