Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 30: An important development has emerged regarding the COVID vaccine and its rare side effects, which have raised concerns among health experts. British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company AstraZeneca has acknowledged in court documents that its COVID vaccine, Covishield, can lead to rare side effects, as reported by The Telegraph.

Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and produced by the Serum Institute of India, is currently the subject of a class action lawsuit in the UK, with claims of vaccine-related deaths leading to 51 cases filed against AstraZeneca.

In court documents, AstraZeneca has conceded that Covishield can, "in very rare cases, cause TTS," with TTS standing for Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a rare but severe condition characterized by blood clot formation (thrombosis) alongside low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia).

Typically, TTS presents with symptoms like severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath, and neurological deficits. Diagnosis involves blood tests to assess platelet levels and imaging studies to detect blood clots.

Treatment for TTS requires a multidisciplinary approach, including hospitalization, anticoagulation therapy to prevent further clotting, and supportive care. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange may also be utilized to stabilize platelet levels and manage immune-mediated reactions.

Healthcare providers closely monitor TTS patients due to the potential for severe complications, including organ damage and death. Prompt recognition and management are vital for improving outcomes in individuals affected by this rare but critical syndrome.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, a medical expert, stated to ANI, "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."

Although COVID vaccines have saved numerous lives, reports of these extremely rare but potentially serious immune-mediated events have also been documented in reputable journals, Dr. Jayadevan added.

In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated in its report that TTS emerged as a new adverse event following immunization in individuals vaccinated with COVID-19 non-replicant adenovirus vector-based vaccines. This includes the AstraZeneca COVID-19 ChAdOx-1 vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Janssen COVID-19 Ad26.COV2-S vaccines.

"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.