AstraZeneca admits its Covid vaccine 'can' cause blood clots

For the first time, British Pharma giant AstraZeneca has admitted that its Covid vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause blood clots and low blood platelet count.

The firm made the statement before the High Court in the UK on April 29 as it is being sued for 100 million pounds in a class action lawsuit over claims that its vaccine caused death and serious injury in 51 cases, reported the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

In India, its vaccine, which was developed by the University of Oxford, was sold under the name of Covishield and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India.

According to the attorneys, some households faced a "devastating effect" of the vaccination.

"It is admitted that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. The causal mechanism is not known...Further, TTS can also occur in the absence of the AZ vaccine (or any vaccine). Causation in any individual case will be a matter for expert evidence," AstraZeneca said.

AstraZeneca has, however, denied the lawyers' claims that the vaccine is "defective" and its efficacy "vastly overstated".

The firm's admission came in response to one of the complainants, Scott mentioning that he developed a “blood clot and a bleed on his brain”, leaving him with a severe brain impairment.

He claimed that his situation was caused by the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, which he took in April 2021. The hospital even informed his wife that Scott would not be able to survive.

Lawyers representing families suing the drugs company argue that the vaccine was not as safe as individuals were entitled to expect. They are suing the firm under the Consumer Protection Act of 1987, and are seeking damages up to 100 million pounds.

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