Potential Risks and Reactions
Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, a former scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has clarified that a small percentage of individuals may experience potential risks associated with the Covishield Covid-19 vaccine.
According to Dr. Gangakhedkar, approximately seven to eight individuals per million recipients of the Covishield vaccine may face the possibility of experiencing a rare side effect known as Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). This risk is highest after the initial dose and decreases with subsequent doses. Adverse reactions are most likely to occur within the first two to three months following vaccination.
Despite these potential risks, Dr. Gangakhedkar emphasizes that the benefits of the Covishield vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of recipients.
AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company behind Covishield, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, recently acknowledged in UK court documents that the vaccine could potentially lead to TTS. This condition is characterized by blood clots and low platelet levels.
The parents of a woman who died after receiving the Covishield vaccine are filing a case against the Serum Institute of India (SII), the Indian company that manufactures the vaccine for AstraZeneca. They believe that AstraZeneca and SII should have stopped production and distribution of the vaccine after several European countries suspended or age-limited its use due to blood clot deaths in March 2021.
AstraZeneca has expressed their sympathy to those who have lost loved ones or experienced health problems following vaccination. They maintain that patient safety is their highest priority and that regulatory authorities have stringent standards in place to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.
The news of potential risks associated with the Covishield vaccine has also sparked political debate in India. The Samajwadi Party and the RJD have accused the BJP-led government of taking a "commission" from the vaccine manufacturer and administering the "wrong" vaccine to the country's people.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has urged the central government to take prompt action in addressing the vaccine's alleged adverse effects.