New Delhi: AstraZeneca recently acknowledged a rare side effect stemming from its Covid vaccine, Covishield. The admission came as a part of the court proceedings of a class-action lawsuit, where the pharmaceutical company has been accused of causing severe injuries and even death.
Developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the vaccine has allegedly led to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) in some cases, characterized by blood clots and low blood platelet counts.
AstraZeneca’s AZD1222 vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was produced and supplied as Covishield by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in countries with lower and moderate incomes.
While disputing the claims, AstraZeneca acknowledged in a legal document to London’s High Court in February that its vaccine “can, in very rare cases, cause TTS.” The company is firmly denying allegations that its vaccine is defective or that its efficacy has been overstated.
The lawsuit currently contains 51 cases, seeking damages of up to £100 million. The first case was filed by Jamie Scott in 2023, who alleged permanent brain injury resulting from a blood clot and brain bleed after receiving the vaccine in April 2021.
Serum Institute of India (SII) responded to the reports to media channels, saying, “No case of rare side effects ‘TTS’ was ever found in India,” adding that the admission of the rare side effect has always been in the public domain.
