AstraZeneca, the company behind the Covishield vaccine, recently acknowledged the potential for TTS (a condition associated with blood clots and low platelet count) as a rare side effect in certain individuals.
Since this news broke, discussions online have been buzzing with posts about Covishield, one of the main vaccines available in India during the pandemic.
Some of these posts claim that most Indians are now at risk of TTS. However, a fact check conducted by The Honest Indian Project (THIP) reveals that this claim is only partly true. While the risk of TTS exists, it's exceedingly rare.
The Indian government has faced criticism in many online discussions for allowing the Covishield vaccine in the country and potentially exposing people to Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT). This concern stems from AstraZeneca's acknowledgment in a UK court regarding the rare side effects associated with their vaccines.
VITT is a severe condition characterized by low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and blood clots (thrombosis) within the body. This condition is linked to adenovirus vector vaccines deployed during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Common symptoms of VITT include shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, severe and persistent headaches, and abdominal pain. Affected individuals may also experience easy bruising.
Do AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccines cause VITT? Yes, but it's a rare side effect. It's important to understand that, as stated by the company and supported by previous research, not everyone who receives AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccines will develop VITT.
The global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its Coronavirus vaccine, AZD1222, could lead to a rare occurrence of decreased platelet levels and blood clot formation. AstraZeneca has recognized a link between the vaccine and Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT), a condition characterized by abnormally low platelet levels and the formation of blood clots. This acknowledgment comes in response to lawsuits filed against the company in a UK court. This is the same vaccine manufactured under the name Covishield in India.
The company has stated in its legal documents that while there is a possibility of VITT occurring, it is considered "rare" and "uncommon".
Comments