AstraZeneca Faces Concerns Over Vaccine Side Effects: “Sympathy Goes Out…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed the safety and efficacy of the Covishield vaccine, developed by the Serum Institute of India and marketed under this name in India. The vaccine, based on a viral vector platform, uses a modified chimpanzee adenovirus to transport the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells. According to AstraZeneca, the vaccine can cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) in very rare cases.

Despite this acknowledgement, regulatory agencies worldwide maintain that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks posed by exceedingly rare side effects. A UK court case involving a £100 million class action lawsuit against AstraZeneca resulted in the company conceding the link between the vaccine and TTS. However, AstraZeneca emphasized that patient safety is its highest priority, and it abides by strict regulatory standards for the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.

The WHO has described the vaccine as “safe and effective for all individuals aged 18 and above,” stating that the adverse effect prompting legal action is “very rare.” While the vaccine has faced scrutiny for its potential side effects, it continues to be widely administered in India and deemed effective by the WHO.