- By Vivek Raj
- Mon, 06 May 2024 01:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Supreme Court is set to address a petition concerning a rare side-effect potentially associated with the Covishield vaccine, developed jointly by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud acknowledged the issue, which includes demands for an expert panel investigation and government compensation for affected families.
A date for the hearing has yet to be scheduled, although an early session has been ruled out. The petitioner advocates for an expert panel to probe the reported side effects, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), and other potential risks. The petition also calls for the supervision of this investigation by a retired Supreme Court judge, as reported by NDTV.
The concern arises from instances where individuals vaccinated with Covishield during the COVID-19 pandemic purportedly experienced disabilities. AstraZeneca recently acknowledged that its vaccine could, in rare cases, lead to TTS, a condition characterised by blood clots and low platelet count.
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The company faces class-action lawsuits in the UK with damages claimed up to 100 million pounds, triggered by complaints like Jamie Scott's, who alleges suffering a permanent brain injury due to a post-vaccination blood clot.
AstraZeneca confirmed last month that its vaccine could cause TTS in rare instances. While expressing sympathy for affected individuals, AstraZeneca maintains its commitment to patient safety.
Concerns regarding Covishield's side effects have arisen in India, where the vaccine is widely administered. Regulatory agencies globally, including the WHO, continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh exceedingly rare risks of side effects, noting their pivotal role in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Covishield vaccine employs a viral vector platform using a modified chimpanzee adenovirus, ChAdOx1, to deliver the COVID-19 spike protein into human cells. This method trains the immune system to recognise and defend against similar viruses without causing infection.