AstraZeneca admits Covishield can cause 'very rare' blood clot

New Delhi: AstraZeneca has confirmed in court documents that its COVID-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, can cause a rare side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), according to a British newspaper.

The vaccine has been admitted amid a class-action lawsuit claiming numerous deaths and injuries, with victims and their families seeking up to £100 million in damages.

According to Telegraph UK, The lawsuit was Initiated by Jamie Scott, a father of two, who suffered a permanent brain injury after developing a blood clot and a bleed on the brain following his vaccination in April 2021.

The legal battle has intensified, with 51 cases now lodged in the High Court, highlighting the devastating impact TTS has had on individuals and families.

Kate Scott, Scott’s wife, told the Telegraph, “The medical world has acknowledged for a long time that VITT was caused by the vaccine. It’s only AstraZeneca who have questioned whether Jamie’s condition was caused by the jab.''

“It’s taken three years for this admission to come. It’s progress, but we would like to see more from them and the Government. It’s time for things to move more quickly.

“I hope their admission means we will be able to sort this out sooner rather than later. We need an apology, fair compensation for our family and other families who have been affected. We have the truth on our side, and we are not going to give up.”

AstraZeneca acknowledges a link between the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) in March 2021, shortly after the vaccine rollout began.

The revelation raises concerns about vaccine safety and underscores the challenge of balancing public health concerns with potential vaccination risks.

While AstraZeneca contests the claims, it has conceded in a legal defence submitted to the High Court in February that the vaccine can, in very rare instances, cause TTS. However, the pharmaceutical company maintains that the causal mechanism is not fully understood and that TTS can also occur independently of the vaccine.

The admission could potentially lead to payouts if it is determined that the vaccine was the direct cause of serious illness or death in specific legal cases.

This development underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the safety and efficacy of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs argue that the vaccine is “defective” and that its efficacy has been “vastly overstated,” claims vehemently denied by AstraZeneca.