After the worldwide withdrawal of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj raised questions on Wednesday regarding the Indian government’s decision to allow the Covishield vaccine, especially in light of most European countries banning it due to side effects.
In a statement posted on X, Saurabh remarked, “When most European Nations had banned the use of Covishield vaccine due to side effects in March 2021, Indian Govt continued the use of this vaccine. Now facing heat from Courts in the UK, they have withdrawn the vaccine world over.”
AstraZeneca withdrew its vaccine after it acknowledged, for the first time in court documents, that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, as reported by The Telegraph, a British newspaper.
AstraZeneca stated that the vaccine was being removed from markets for commercial reasons, clarifying that it was no longer being produced or supplied due to updated vaccines combating new variants.
The withdrawal application was filed on March 5 and took effect on May 7. Following the company’s decision to withdraw its “marketing authorisation,” the vaccine can no longer be used in the European Union.
Similar applications will be filed in the UK and other countries in the coming months that have approved the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria.
In recent months, Vaxzevria has faced scrutiny over a very rare side effect causing blood clots and low blood platelet counts. AstraZeneca admitted in court documents filed in the High Court in February that the vaccine “can, in very rare cases, cause TTS.”
AstraZeneca maintained that the decision to withdraw the vaccine was unrelated to the case or the admission of its potential to cause TTS, labeling the timing as a mere coincidence, according to The Telegraph.
Last week, AstraZeneca reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety while emphasizing the overall safety profile of the vaccine.
Despite these rare incidents, the pharmaceutical company reiterated that extensive clinical trial data and real-world evidence consistently support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Regulatory agencies worldwide continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of such extremely rare side effects.