AstraZeneca admits its vaccine causes clotting: Why Covishield vaccine takers in India shouldn’t panic

AstraZeneca, a renowned global pharmaceutical manufacturer, in collaboration with the esteemed Oxford University, has developed a COVID-19 vaccine. It's important to note that this vaccine, like any medical intervention, can have rare side effects such as blood clotting and low platelet count after immunisation. This information came to light after the company faced a lawsuit alleging severe harm and deaths caused by the vaccine. While this is the company's first admission in court, Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) has been well-documented and accepted in scientific literature. The first cases emerged within months of the vaccination drives commencing in Europe, leading some governments to halt the benefit of the AstraZeneca vaccine temporarily. 

In India, the vaccine, known as Covishield and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute, has raised safety concerns after being administered through 175 crore doses. The Government Committee on Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) confirmed 18 deaths from TTS in 2021, the first year of Covid-19 vaccination in the country. However, due to the complex nature of international legal proceedings, it's unlikely that affected Indian patients can participate in the British petition. This is because the vaccine is subject to Indian jurisdiction and laws, and approvals come from different regulators. 

Despite this, it's crucial to note that TTS is an infrequent side effect, even more so in Indians and South Asians compared to Europeans. Furthermore, the risk is primarily elevated in the initial weeks after the first vaccination, and most Indians have already received three shots, significantly reducing the likelihood of TTS occurrence. The proven benefits of vaccination far outweigh the minimal risks, and it's paramount to reassure people that the risk of TTS is confined to the immediate post-vaccination period. Dr Gagandeep Kang, Director of Global Health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a member of the WHO safety advisory committee for COVID-19 vaccines, affirms, "We are all long past vaccination now."

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