AstraZeneca, in response to recent allegations in court documents that link their COVID-19 vaccine with severe outcomes, has acknowledged that rare side effects like Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) can occur in very limited cases. The pharmaceutical company has expressed sympathy for those affected while reaffirming their dedication to prioritizing patient safety. They have assured the public that regulatory agencies maintain strict standards to ensure the safe administration of all medicines, including vaccines.
The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, known as Covishield, is developed using a viral vector platform, specifically utilizing a chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells. This technology, based on a modified form of a cold virus, imparts immune system instructions without causing infection. The safety concerns surrounding TTS are not unique to AstraZeneca, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified this as an adverse event associated with COVID-19 vaccines utilizing non-replicant adenovirus vectors, such as the AstraZeneca ChAdOx-1 vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has addressed the link between COVID-19 vaccination and health issues like heart attacks, emphasizing findings from a detailed study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Mandaviya highlighted that lifestyle factors and underlying health conditions could play a role in adverse health events, refuting claims that the COVID-19 vaccine is directly responsible for such outcomes.