Plea In SC Seeks Examination Of AstraZeneca's Covishield Vaccine's Side Effects

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court requesting an assessment of AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD vaccine, including its side effects and associated risks, by a panel of medical experts. The plea specifically seeks an examination of the vaccine's side effects by an expert panel appointed by the Supreme Court.

This petition follows AstraZeneca's recent admission in a U.K. court regarding the potential of its vaccine to cause a rare side effect related to blood clotting.

AstraZeneca acknowledged earlier this week that its Covid-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of Oxford, may lead to a rare side effect involving blood clotting and low platelet count following vaccination.

According to reports, the company conceded in court that a side effect known as 'Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)' could be linked to the vaccine, as it faced a lawsuit alleging severe harm and fatalities due to the vaccine.

In India, AstraZeneca's Covishield, manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute, has been widely used, with over 175 crore doses administered to Indians.