Potential Risks and Reactions
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 Gangakhedkar, approximately seven to eight individuals per million recipients of the Covishield vaccine might 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. However, Gangakhedkar emphasizes that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the minimal associated risks.
AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company behind Covishield, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, has acknowledged in UK court documents that the vaccine could potentially lead to TTS, a condition 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 Covid-19 inoculation for UK's AstraZeneca. This follows AstraZeneca's acknowledgment in court that the vaccine can lead to a rare side effect.
Venugopalan Govindan, father of Karunya, who died post-vaccination, believes AstraZeneca's admission was "too late" and criticizes the continued manufacture and supply of the vaccine despite reports of deaths from blood clots in March 2021.
AstraZeneca has expressed sympathy for those who have lost loved ones or reported health problems and emphasizes their commitment to patient safety.
The news has also sparked political debate, with the Samajwadi Party and the RJD accusing 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.