Understanding Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) Caused by AstraZeneca’s Covishield Vaccine

Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) has been classified into 2 tiers by the CDC following a lawsuit alleging serious harm and deaths linked to the Covishield vaccine. This vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, was widely administered during the Covid-19 pandemic.

TTS is a rare condition in which blood clots form in unusual places in the body and the number of platelets in the blood drops. Platelets are small cells that help blood to clot, so having too few of them can be dangerous.

TTS seems to occur because the body’s immune system reacts to the vaccine by making antibodies that attack a protein involved in blood clotting. The condition has been observed in people who received adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccines, including Vaxzevria, Covishield (AstraZeneca), and the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

The symptoms of TTS include low platelet count, positive anti-PF4 ELISA tests, and Tier 1 cases are usually more severe and riskier. This condition is more common in younger people.

Tier 1 cases of TTS are considered more severe and risky, and are often characterized by a low platelet count. A positive anti-PF4 ELISA test is necessary for diagnosis, confirming the presence of TTS.