Supreme Court to Address Concerns Over Covishield Vaccine Side-Effect

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th May. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition regarding a rare side-effect linked to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, produced by the Serum Institute of India, and known as Covishield in India.

A date for the hearing has not been scheduled yet. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has acknowledged the issue, which involves requests for an expert panel to investigate the side-effect and for the government to compensate families of individuals who may have died after receiving the vaccine. However, an early hearing of the petition has been ruled out.

The petitioner is asking for an expert panel to investigate the side-effect and other potential risks, with oversight from a retired Supreme Court judge. The petition mentions cases where individuals who received the vaccine experienced disabilities and calls for the government to provide compensation for them as well.

Last month, AstraZeneca disclosed that its vaccine could, in rare instances, lead to TTS (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome), a condition causing blood clots and low platelet count.

The company is currently facing class-action lawsuits in the UK following a complaint from Jamie Scott, who alleges he suffered a permanent brain injury due to a clot that formed after receiving the vaccine in April 2021.

While AstraZeneca initially disputed the claim, it later admitted in a UK court that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. There are more than 50 cases seeking damages up to 100 million pounds.

In a recent statement, AstraZeneca expressed sympathy for those affected by health issues or loss of loved ones, emphasizing its commitment to patient safety and adherence to strict standards for the safe use of all medicines.

Concerns have arisen in India due to reports of a potential side-effect of the Covishield vaccine, but experts and fact-checks suggest that while the risk of TTS is real, the likelihood is extremely low.

Medical experts note that side-effects are common with most vaccines, including those with a long history of use, and are typically mild and short-lived, according to the World Health Organization.

Global regulatory agencies, including the WHO, maintain that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks posed by extremely rare side effects.

The Covishield vaccine uses a viral vector platform instead of mRNA technology, utilizing a modified chimpanzee adenovirus, ChAdOx1, to deliver the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells. This approach helps the immune system recognize and defend against similar viruses without causing illness.