AstraZeneca Addresses Concerns About Vaccine Side Effects
In response to growing concerns about potential side effects associated with the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical giant has reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety. This announcement follows acknowledgements that the vaccine, known as Covishield in India and produced by the Serum Institute of India, can lead to rare instances of blood clots and low platelet counts.
This admission came to light during a UK court case involving a 100 million pound class action lawsuit alleging that the vaccine caused death and serious injury in numerous instances. AstraZeneca stated in court documents that the vaccine can indeed cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) in very rare cases.
While this isn't the first time AstraZeneca has addressed side effects associated with its Covid vaccine, recent developments have prompted the company to concede this possibility more explicitly. An AstraZeneca spokesperson stated, "Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines."
Regulatory agencies worldwide maintain that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of such extremely rare side effects.
Understanding Covishield and its Technology
Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India, utilizes a viral vector platform rather than mRNA technology. The vaccine employs a modified chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1) to carry the Covid-19 spike protein into human cells. While incapable of infecting the recipient, this modified virus instructs the immune system to prepare a defense against similar viruses. Similar technology has been utilized in vaccines for viruses such as Ebola.
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified TTS as a new adverse event following immunization with Covid-19 non-replicant adenovirus vector-based vaccines, including the AstraZeneca Covid-19 ChAdOx-1 vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson Janssen Covid-19 Ad26.COV2-S vaccines.
WHO issued interim emergency guidance to raise awareness about TTS in the context of Covid-19 vaccination and assist healthcare providers in assessing and managing potential TTS cases.