THE LEARNING HUB

  How is ZyCoV-D different from the other COVID-19 vaccines? Unlike other intramuscular vaccines available around the world, ZyCov-D is very different in terms of mode of administration and the number of doses: 1.        ZyCoV-D is a genetic or nucleic acid vaccine. It is a three-dose vaccine that needs to be administered on day 1, day 28, and day 56. 2.       Unlike other vaccines, ZyCov-D is a needle-free Covid-19 jab. It uses the ‘Jet Injector’ method, a technique where the needle piercing the skin is replaced by a pressure jet injecting the liquid directly through the upper layer of the skin and into the underlying tissues. This method is a great help for those who show hesitancy because of a fear of needles. Further, the absence of needles can also lead to a significant reduction in side effects like pain at the injection site, swelling, rash, and arm soreness. 3.       As per the interim analysis ...

  How does  ZyCoV-D work? ZyCov-D is the world’s first-ever DNA-based vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is developed and manufactured by Zydus Cadila, an Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company. According to the World Health Organisation, this ‘radical fresh approach’ offers several advantages over traditional vaccines, including improved vaccine stability, the absence of any infectious agent, and the relative ease of large-scale manufacture.

  What is a DNA-based vaccine? DNA and RNA   are some of the basic building blocks of life. They are molecules that carry that genetic information that is passed on from parents to molecules.   Once administered, just like any other vaccine, a DNA-based vaccine also teaches our body’s immune system to fight the real virus. They insert a genetically engineered blueprint of viral genes into the  DNA  molecules called “Plasmid”. Once inside, it gives direct instruction to our body to build viral proteins, which the immune system recognizes as foreign and triggers an immune response that protects us from the disease.  The latest ZyCoV-D is also a DNA-based vaccine for the COVID-19 virus that recently got approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to be tested on humans.

  How do vaccines work? The immune system These viruses go on to infect other cells. This causes havoc and this is where our immune system comes to our rescue. The immune system has a whole army of microscopic assassins that prevent these viruses from turning our body into a virus manufacturing unit factory. Now the immune system responds in two ways to protect us. One is the innate or non-specific immunity and another is the adaptive or specific immunity. Innate Immunity As the name suggests, this kind of immunity is there from birth and is non-specific which means that it responds to all kinds of pathogens in the same way. Its ultimate job is to kill the pathogen. The need here is to actually get into action very very quickly. In fact, as soon as the pathogens are detected. We can think about this type of immunity as more bran and less brain. The cells of the innate immunity go berserk as soon as they know that there are pathogens around. They are like the mad assassins trying to...