Unveiling the Rare Risk: AstraZeneca's COVID Vaccine and Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)

 

Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) - A Blood Clotting Disorder - A Rare Adverse Effect of AstraZeneca's COVID Vaccine

Following news that AstraZeneca had finally admitted in court documents that the vaccine it co-developed with Oxford University—marketed as Vaxzevria in Europe and Covishield in India—may raise the risk of uncommon and dangerous blood clots.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that was created using a modified chimpanzee adenovirus called ChAdOx1. It is marketed as Covishield in India and Vaxzevria in Europe. It has been administered widely across the nation, to around 90% of the Indian population, and is produced and delivered in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Understanding Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Syndrome (TTS)

One of the uncommon but extremely dangerous side effects of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is thrombotic thrombocytopenic syndrome (TTS). As low as one in 50,000 (0.002%) cases are still reported, infectious disease expert Dr. Ishwar Gilada told ANI.

"TTS is an extremely rare condition due to an abnormal immune response," stated co-dr. Rajeev Jayadevan. The WHO released a study on it on May 27, 2021, despite the fact that it has multiple causes. "It has also been linked to adenovirus vector vaccines," the National COVID-19 Task Force chairman of the Indian Medical Association told ANI.

What's the Case?

The British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical corporation has acknowledged in UK court records that its COVID vaccine may increase the chance of uncommon blood clots for the first time, according to a story by The Telegraph.

The pharmaceutical company is facing nearly fifty-one lawsuits in the UK High Court alleging that their COVID vaccination resulted in fatalities and severe injuries.

The link between AstraZeneca's COVID Vaccine and TTS?

Approximately 90% of Indians undergoing COVID vaccinations have gotten the AstraZeneca vaccine, also referred to as Covishield in the country. It is derived from an adenovirus, a harmless cold virus that infects chimpanzees.

This virus targets a spike protein after being genetically altered or designed to interact with SARS-CoV-2, the agent that causes COVID-19. This spike protein sequence is therefore genetically encoded in the vaccine," Dr. Ishwar, Secretary-General of the People's Health Organization-India, Mumbai, stated.

Should Everyone Who Received the Covishield Vaccine Worry?

"No, there is no need for us to worry as this has happened with very few people," stated Dr. Ishwar.

"It's important to distinguish between complications resulting from COVID-19, post-COVID complications, and vaccine-induced causes," he stated. This topic is currently the focus of discussion and contention within the legal community as well as the scientific community."

The statement made by Dr. Rajeev that "vaccinated individuals have a reduced risk of complex complications such as post-COVID heart attacks and strokes" is crucial to remember.

"Vaccines can have very rare yet serious side effects, but overall, the benefits outweigh the dangers. Vaccinations against COVID-19 have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. For instance, vaccine reluctance has resulted in 232,000–318,000 COVID-related deaths in the US," he stated.