AstraZeneca acknowledges rare vaccine side effects amid legal battles

Pharmaceutical titan AstraZeneca has, for the first time, acknowledged potential rare side effects associated with its Covid vaccine, a revelation disclosed in court documents.

This admission may signal the potential for a substantial legal settlement running into millions of pounds.

As reported by The Telegraph, AstraZeneca faced a class action lawsuit alleging that its vaccine was linked to deaths and serious injuries in numerous instances.

The vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, has been under scrutiny, with lawyers contending that it triggers adverse reactions in a minority of cases.

The legal battle initiated last year by Jamie Scott, a father incapacitated by permanent brain injuries following blood clots and brain hemorrhages post-vaccination, illustrates the severity of some cases.

AstraZeneca, while refuting the claims, conceded in legal filings submitted to the High Court in February that its Covid vaccine could, in rare circumstances, induce Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), characterized by blood clots and diminished blood platelet counts.

This acknowledgment by AstraZeneca, made in the context of a legal defense against Scott’s claim, comes amid contentious legal maneuvering.

Should the drug company acknowledge vaccine-induced serious illness or death in specific legal proceedings, it could potentially lead to substantial compensatory payouts.

Currently, there are 51 cases before the High Court, with claimants and bereaved families seeking damages potentially amounting to £100 million (US$107 million).

AstraZeneca’s stance, while contesting overarching claims of vaccine-induced TTS, has acknowledged the potential for rare adverse effects in specific instances.

Critics argue that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine’s flaws and exaggerated efficacy claims have exacerbated the situation, contentions vehemently denied by the pharmaceutical firm.

The emergence of vaccine-induced immune thrombosis (VITT) further complicates matters, with plaintiffs’ lawyers suggesting its integration within TTS, a stance not fully recognized by AstraZeneca.

Despite government indemnification of AstraZeneca against legal repercussions, intervention thus far has been limited.

“It’s taken three years for this admission to come. It’s progress, but we would like to see more from them and the Government. It’s time for things to move more quickly,” Kate Scott, Jamie Scott’s wife said.

“I hope their admission means we will be able to sort this out sooner rather than later. We need an apology, fair compensation for our family and other families who have been affected. We have the truth on our side, and we are not going to give up.”

Thailand reports 7 blood clot cases after AstraZeneca vaccination

In Thailand, The Department of Disease Control reported that out of 20 million citizens who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, seven developed blood clots, resulting in two fatalities.

These adverse effects were observed within 42 days after vaccination.

On Thursday (2 May), Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the Director-General of the Disease Control Department, addressed the vaccine’s side effects, noting that blood clot incidents were expected and acknowledged globally.

Thongchai explained that when vaccines were first introduced in Thailand, the AstraZeneca vaccine was authorized for emergency use to combat Covid-19 spread.

Initially, the Sinovac vaccine was administered, as other vaccines were not widely recognized.

The AstraZeneca vaccine became crucial for international travel, as many European countries only accepted travelers vaccinated with it.  mRNA vaccines were not yet available.

Approximately 48 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were given, with each person receiving two doses, totaling around 20 million vaccinated citizens.

The last dose was administered in March 2023.

Thongchai clarified that blood clotting incidents occurred within five to 42 days post-vaccination.

Cases beyond this period were unlikely linked to the vaccine, reassuring the public and citing similar reports globally.

Malaysia and Indonesia health officials address concerns over AstraZeneca vaccine side effects

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin addressed concerns over side effects associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, particularly its potential to trigger thrombosis, thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

Minister Budi highlighted that these side effects have long been recognized, though they are exceedingly rare.

“These side effects have been identified and researched by AstraZeneca for some time now. While there are impacts associated with the vaccine, they are minimal,” stated Minister Budi on Thursday (2 May).

He further noted that to date, the Indonesia Technical Advisory Group of Immunization (ITAGI) has not reported encountering these side effects.

“Up until now, ITAGI has not reported these particular impacts,” Minister Budi confirmed.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the Health Ministry plans to seek clarification from AstraZeneca regarding reported rare side effects of its Covid-19 vaccine, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced.

He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and transparent explanation from the pharmaceutical company, urging them to address citizens and media directly.

Stressing transparency, Dr Dzulkefly emphasized the need for AstraZeneca to clarify globally, given its status as a major vaccine manufacturer.