A revelation surfaced during a legal proceeding in London, where it was disclosed that AstraZeneca, the UK pharmaceutical firm, acknowledged that its Covid-19 vaccine, AZD1222, could lead to a medical condition known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). The collaboration between AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford in 2020 resulted in the development of the vaccine, subsequently marketed in India under the brand name Covishield by the Serum Institute of India (SII) based in Pune.
This medical condition, TTS, is characterized by the formation of blood clots within blood vessels, potentially impeding blood flow, compounding the risks of serious implications. Thrombocytopenia, on the other hand, signifies a scarcity of platelets in the bloodstream, crucial for effective blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding. TTS often manifests with unusual blood clot formations, particularly in critical areas like the brain or abdomen, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, raising concerns tied to the vaccine's side effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted TTS as a consequential adverse event linked to Covid-19 vaccination with non-replicant adenovirus vector-based vaccines, encompassing the AstraZeneca Covid-19 ChAdOx-1 vaccine and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Covid-19 Ad26.COV2-S vaccines. The Class Action lawsuit initiated in the UK against AstraZeneca alleges fatalities and serious injuries caused by the vaccine, with legal representatives presenting cases linking the inoculation to detrimental side effects reported by affected families.
The first legal case was brought forth by Jamie Scott in 2023, following his inoculation with AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine in April 2021, resulting in a permanent brain injury due to a blood clot and brain bleeding. Despite AstraZeneca acknowledging in some rare cases that the vaccine can induce TTS, they have refuted the claim on a broader scale, sparking a legal battle. The lawsuit involves 51 cases lodged in the High Court, seeking compensation up to £100 million, with AstraZeneca standing by its position on the vaccine's safety while legal representatives of the affected individuals argue the vaccine's defects and overstated efficacy.