AstraZeneca, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, admits its Covid-19 vaccine can cause a rare side effect, Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). The admission comes amidst a lawsuit alleging severe harm and deaths caused by the vaccine. Kate, wife of a victim, demands an apology and fair compensation after a three-year struggle. The lawsuit, involving fifty-one cases, seeks around £100 million in compensation.

UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its Covid-19 vaccine can lead to a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). This admission comes as the company faces a lawsuit alleging severe harm and deaths caused by the vaccine, according to The Telegraph.
TTS is thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which is basically a 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. 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, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman National IMA COVID Task Force, Kerala.

AstraZeneca, which collaborated with the University of Oxford to develop the vaccine, is currently embroiled in legal proceedings initiated by victims and their families. One such case involves Jamie Scott, a father of two, who took legal action after suffering a blood clot that left him unable to work. Scott claims that following his vaccination in April 2021, he developed a “blood clot and a bleed on his brain,” resulting in a lasting brain injury.

Kate, Scott’s wife, stated, “The medical world has acknowledged for a long time that vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) was caused by the vaccine.” However, AstraZeneca informed Scott’s lawyers in May 2023 that they do not acknowledge TTS as being induced by the vaccine on a general level.

In a legal document submitted to the High Court, the multinational pharmaceutical company admitted, “It is admitted that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. The causal mechanism is not known.”

Kate has demanded an apology and fair compensation for their family and other affected families, emphasizing that it took three years for the admission. She stated, “We have the truth on our side, and we are not going to give up.”

Kate, the wife of a victim, stated to The Telegraph, “The medical world has acknowledged for a long time that VITT was caused by the vaccine. It’s only AstraZeneca who have questioned whether Jamie’s condition was caused by the jab.” She sees AstraZeneca’s admission as progress after three years of battling and demands an apology and fair compensation for her family and others affected.

What is TTS (Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome)?
Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) is an extremely rare condition characterized by the formation of blood clots (thrombosis) and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). It is also known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).

Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a blood vessel, which can impede blood flow. Thrombocytopenia is a condition where there is a low count of platelets in the blood. Platelets play a crucial role in clotting, which helps prevent excessive bleeding.

What is the link between TTS and the Covid vaccine?
The link between TTS and the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was discovered after the vaccine’s rollout. Researchers found a connection between the vaccine and VITT. Claimants’ attorneys argue that VITT is a subset of TTS, a distinction that AstraZeneca does not appear to acknowledge.

Fifty-one cases have been filed in the High Court, with victims and their families seeking damages exceeding £100 million. AstraZeneca expressed sympathy for those who lost loved ones or reported health problems. It emphasized that patient safety is its top priority, and regulatory authorities have strict standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.

AstraZeneca also collaborated with the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine producer, to supply the vaccine to the Indian Government.

courtesy: The Economic Times