To friends in India. Based on my decade of research on drug regulations and safety in India, here's my takeaway on the two Covid vaccines available. if you can get access to Covishield, take it NOW. If you are able to stay safe and isolated - wait on Covaxin. Here's why. (Thread)

For decades, the standard practice in drug development has been four phases of clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy. Covishield - developed by AstraZeneca/Oxford has been tested and meets every standard. It has been licensed to the Serum Institute. (2/7)

Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) on the other hand, has been rushed by the government. It is being distributed without the safety and efficacy trials have been completed and the data published (3/7)

This is unheard of in the recent history of drug regulation. Even when trials have been expedited and designed to respond to emergencies (the HIV-AIDS vaccine is a great example), trials have been conducted and data always made transparent. (4/7)

The only explanation is government pressure and its takeover of Indian regulatory institutions. This is not to say it is necessarily unsafe. It will probably turn out ok, but we cannot know for sure. But right now, Modi's decision mounts to an act of criminal negligence. (5/7)

And to encourage the production and purchase of the Bharat Biotech vaccine over the Oxford vaccine is simply nationalist jingoism that is playing with the lives of millions. (6/7)

In summary, take Covishield if you can (also known as the AstraZeneca-Oxford / Serum Institute vaccine). If can only get Covaxin (known as the Bharat Biotech vaccine) stay safe and isolated and wait for the safety data to be published, or mobilize for access to Covishield. (7/7)

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