- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Tue, 30 Apr 2024 01:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Covid vaccines were administered to masses across the globe during and after the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the world in 2020. British pharma giant, AstraZeneca, has now admitted in court documents that its covid vaccines Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS". The admission came in connection with a case that alleges that the vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a report in 2023 that TTS emerged as a new adverse event following immunisation in individuals vaccinated with COVID-19 non-replicant adenovirus vector-based vaccines. This refers to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 ChAdOx-1 vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Janssen COVID-19 Ad26.COV2-S vaccines.
Indians in large numbers had taken the Covishield vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.
ALSO READ: AstraZeneca Admits Its Covid-19 Vaccine Covishield Can Cause Rare Side-Effect ‘TTS’
What Is Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)?
Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) refers to the clot in blood vessels, and it occurs in very rare cases, following the use of certain types of vaccines, medical expert Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said.
The syndrome is characterised by thrombosis formation (blood clots) combined with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) with symptoms typically presenting in the 4-42 days after vaccination.
Acknowledging that the Covid vaccines have helped in preventing numerous deaths, Jayadevan, who is the Co-Chairman of National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid Task Force in Kerala, stated that reports of such cases have also been highlighted in many reports.
"TTS is thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which is basically clot in blood vessels of the brain or elsewhere, along with a low platelet count. It is known to occur in very rare instances following certain types of vaccines and also from other causes. According to the WHO, adenovirus vector vaccines in particular have been rarely associated with this condition," he told ANI.
"Although COVID vaccines have prevented numerous deaths, reports of these extremely rare but potentially serious immune mediated events have also been published in reputed journals," Dr Jayadevan added.
ALSO READ: Israel-Hamas War: Houthis Attack Four Ships In Indian Ocean And Red Sea
TTS Symptoms
Symptoms of TTS include severe, persistent headaches that remain unimproved with regular painkillers, blurred vision, confusion or seizure, weakness of face or limbs, shortness of breath or chest pain, severe abdominal (belly) pain leg swelling, unexplained pin-prick rash or bruising away from the injection site, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care observed.
"TTS is a serious and life-threatening adverse event. WHO has issued this interim emergency guidance to increase awareness about TTS in the context of COVID-19 vaccination and help healthcare providers in the assessment and management of potential TTS cases," the 2023 statement by WHO read.
Amid reports about clot in blood vessels in the UK media, the Serum Institute of India did not respond to the query.