The multinational drug company AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its COVID-19 vaccine, created in collaboration with Oxford University researchers, may lead to a rare complication involving blood clotting and reduced platelet levels post-vaccination. In India, the vaccine, known as Covishield and produced by the Serum Institute based in Pune, has been given in a staggering 1.75 billion doses. Naturally, this development prompts concerns about the safety of the vaccine that millions of us have received.
The company disclosed this side effect, known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), during legal proceedings amid a lawsuit claiming the vaccine caused severe harm and fatalities, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. Although this marks the company’s initial acknowledgment in court, TTS has long been recognized and documented in scientific research. Reports of TTS emerged shortly after the launch of vaccination campaigns in Europe, prompting temporary suspensions of the AstraZeneca vaccine in certain countries.
According to experts, Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) was noted in the early stages of the pandemic by European nations but occurred very infrequently in India. A senior official from the health ministry, involved in discussions regarding the vaccination campaign, stated, “TTS is an extremely uncommon side effect, even more so among Indians and South Asians in comparison to Europeans. However, there is substantial evidence indicating that vaccination has been instrumental in saving lives — the advantages surpass the potential risks.”