J&J becomes fifth COVID-19 vaccine to be available in India, list of all options - In Pics

Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine got the nod for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in India making it the fifth vaccine to be approved. Here's a list of other vaccines available in India. See Pics

Covishield developed by AstraZeneca is based on the viral vector platform. The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus. A Covishield dose is being administered for free at government vaccination centres, while at private hospitals, the charges have been capped at Rs 780. This includes Rs 150 in GST.

Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine, which means it is made up of killed coronaviruses, making them unable to infect or replicate. Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech, is being given for free at government vaccination centres while at private hospitals, the charges have been capped at Rs 1,410. This includes Rs 150 in GST.

Sputnik V is also a viral vector vaccine. though it uses two human recombinant adenovirus vectors for its two doses, aimed at providing longer protection. Developed in Russia. the vaccine in India is available for Rs 1,145 per dose, including GST.

The Moderna vaccine uses mRNA or messenger RNA technology. Once injected, the vaccine instructs the cells to create copies of the spike protein thus prompting the immune cells to create antibodies to fight the virus. The price of Moderna vaccine in India has not been decided yet. In the US, the vaccine is priced at $15 per dose (Rs 1,114) while it costs $18 (Rs 1,337) in the European Union nations.