Global pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its Covid-19 vaccine, developed by researchers from Oxford University, may result in a rare side effect of blood clotting and low platelet count post-immunization. In India, the same vaccine, known as Covishield and produced by the Serum Institute in Pune, has been administered through 175 crore doses. This situation understandably raises concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine we have received.
The company publicly disclosed this side effect, Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), in court amidst facing a lawsuit over severe harm and fatalities associated with the vaccine. This acknowledgment marks the company’s first time addressing this issue in a legal setting, although TTS has been well-documented and recognized in scientific literature. Instances of TTS emerged shortly after vaccination drives commenced in Europe, prompting some countries to temporarily halt the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In 2021, the Government committee on Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) reviewed at least 36 cases of TTS and confirmed 18 fatalities resulting from it during the initial year of Covid-19 immunization in the country. Nevertheless, impacted Indian individuals may face legal barriers to participating in the British lawsuit, as approvals come from different regulatory bodies and the vaccine is produced by an Indian company, thus falling under Indian jurisdiction and laws.
WHY IS THERE NO NEED TO PANIC?
Medical experts point out that TTS was identified early in the pandemic in European nations but remained exceptionally rare in India. An official from the health ministry, involved in the vaccination campaign discussions, stated, “TTS is an uncommon side effect, even rarer among Indians and South Asians compared to Europeans. However, there is substantial evidence proving that vaccination has saved lives, with the benefits outweighing the risks.”
Version 1: It is important to remain calm in light of the recent admission by global pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca regarding the rare side effect of blood clotting and low platelet count associated with its Covid-19 vaccine. This admission was made in court as the company faces a lawsuit alleging harm caused by the vaccine. However, it is worth noting that Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) has been well-documented and accepted in scientific literature. While some countries temporarily halted the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to these side effects, it is crucial to understand that the occurrence of TTS is extremely rare, especially among Indians and South Asians. The benefits of vaccination in saving lives far outweigh the risks associated with this rare side effect.
