Vaccine’s Side Effects Concerns
Amidst concerns regarding potential side effects linked to the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical company reaffirmed its dedication to patient safety. It acknowledged rare instances where the vaccine could potentially lead to blood clots and low platelet count. In India, the vaccine, known as Covishield, was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and extensively used across the country.
Despite previous acknowledgments of side effects associated with its COVID vaccine, AstraZeneca faced a significant legal challenge in the UK with a £100 million class action lawsuit. In this case, the pharmaceutical company conceded that the vaccine can, in rare instances, lead to Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
AstraZeneca conveyed its condolences to those affected by adverse events related to its vaccine and emphasized its unwavering commitment to patient safety. The company highlighted that regulatory bodies uphold strict standards to guarantee the safe usage of all medications, including vaccines.
Furthermore, regulatory agencies globally continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination significantly outweigh the minimal risks associated with extremely rare side effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has affirmed the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for individuals aged 18 and above, describing the adverse effect prompting legal action as “very rare.”
The Serum Institute of India developed the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine using a viral vector platform instead of mRNA technology. This vaccine utilizes a modified chimpanzee adenovirus, ChAdOx1, to deliver the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells. While this cold virus cannot cause illness in recipients, it effectively educates the immune system to combat similar viruses.
