Covishield Vaccine Linked to Heart Attack Risk: UK Court Accepts Company’s Admission; 175 Crore Doses Given To People in India
AstraZeneca, a British pharmaceutical company, has for the first time accepted that its COVID-19 vaccine may cause serious side effects. AstraZeneca acknowledged in the UK High Court that due to the COVID-19 vaccine, Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a serious side effect, can occur.
Thrombocytopenia Syndrome leads to the formation of blood clots or a rapid decrease in platelets in the body. The formation of blood clots can increase the risk of brain stroke or heart attack.
Risks Associated with AstraZeneca’s Vaccine
British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has admitted that its COVID-19 vaccine can have dangerous side effects. According to reports from British media such as The Telegraph, AstraZeneca is facing accusations of causing many deaths due to its vaccine. Many others have been forced to confront serious illnesses.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine is known as Covishield in India. Following the documents submitted to the High Court, the company admitted that its COVID vaccine may cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
Due to this disease, blood clots may form in the body, and the number of platelets decreases, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The company is facing 51 cases in court in Britain. Victims have demanded compensation of nearly 1 billion rupees from AstraZeneca.
The company has collaborated with the University of Oxford to develop this vaccine. AstraZeneca has made the vaccine with the support of the University of Oxford. If the company is found to be at fault for causing deaths or serious illnesses due to its COVID vaccine, it could face penalties.
In April 2021, a person named Scott had taken this vaccine. After that, his health deteriorated. He had blood clots in his body, which directly affected his brain. Besides this, Scott also suffered from internal bleeding in the brain. According to reports, doctors told his wife that they couldn’t save Scott.
The company has acknowledged side effects in legal documents. Last year, Scotland had lodged a complaint against AstraZeneca. In May 2023, in response to Scotland’s allegations, the company claimed that its vaccine cannot cause TTS. However, the company withdrew this claim from the legal documents submitted in court this year.
AstraZeneca has stated that its vaccine may cause TTS in some cases. However, the company currently does not have information on what causes this disease in the vaccine. After these documents emerged, Scotland’s lawyers argued in court that there are flaws in AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and misinformation about its effectiveness.
Identification of Illness Caused by Vaccine in April 2021
Scientists had identified a new disease called Vaccine-Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (VITT) for the first time in March 2021. Lawyers representing the victims have claimed that VITT is actually a subset of TTS. AstraZeneca had denied this allegation.
The company said, “Our sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones or suffered serious illnesses. Patient safety is our top priority. Our regulators ensure that all medicines and vaccines are used safely and effectively.”
The company further stated, “Various clinical trials and data from around the world have proven that our vaccine meets safety standards. Regulators around the world have also accepted that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its rare risks.”
AstraZeneca has saved the lives of 6 million people
The company has also claimed that in April 2021, it had included information in its product that in some cases, there is a risk of TTS. Many studies have shown that during the COVID pandemic, AstraZeneca’s vaccine saved the lives of nearly 60 million people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also said that this vaccine is safe and effective for people aged 18 and older. At the time of its launch, the then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had hailed it as a major victory for British science.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine is not being used in Britain now
The key point is that AstraZeneca’s vaccine is not being used in Britain now. According to The Telegraph, scientists understood this vaccine’s risk only a few months after its launch in the market. After this, it was suggested that even people under 40 should be given a second dose of the vaccine. This is because the harm caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine increased the risk of coronavirus infections.