In a first, pharma giant AstraZeneca, which created the Covishield vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledged a side effect of the vaccination. A vaccinated individual may develop thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) in rare cases.
In thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, one develops blood clots (thrombosis formation) along with low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). These blood clots can form in uncommon sites and lead to loss of blood flow to certain body parts. Platelets are crucial for blood clotting. So, when their count falls, it can be difficult to stop bleeding, especially internal bleeding, which can quickly turn dangerous.
The matter came to light when The Telegraph, UK, reported the pharma giant’s admission in a legal document stating TTS as a rare side effect post-vaccination. This has led to concerns among crores of Indians who were given the same jab.
India used 174 crore doses of Covishield by AstraZeneca
You may recall that the COVID-19 vaccinations began being administered in January 2021, and healthcare workers were prioritized. It was later extended to senior citizens, people with comorbidities and then all healthy adults. CoWin data reveals that over 220 crore doses of Covid vaccines were used in India. Of these, 174 crore doses or 79% were Covishield as of 30 April 2024. The country also used 36.3 crore doses of Covaxin and 7.3 crore doses of Corbevax. The data also showed that the country saw about 0.007% of adverse effects following immunization (AEFI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recent statement by AstraZeneca led to concerns among Indians jabbed with the Covishield vaccine. While netizens question the government for not scrutinizing the product thoroughly before starting mass vaccination drives, many Indian doctors say that the vaccine played a major role in preventing the severe form of COVID-19 and reducing hospitalization and fatalities during the pandemic.
Side effects of Covishield: Should you worry?
Dr M K Sudarshan, community medicine specialist and former chairperson, COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Karnataka, told Happiest Health that the vaccine was the main weapon in stemming the contagion of the infection and containing the progress of the pandemic. “When you weigh the consequences of the vaccine, the benefits far outweigh the risks, especially considering the global health emergency we faced,” he said.
Dr Sudarshan highlighted that drugs — even vaccines like Covishield — are bound to have side effects, which can be mild, moderate or severe. “The Covid vaccination was a special drug whose preparation was accelerated and completed in six months for a global health emergency. In such a scenario, it could not undergo the regular clinical trials, which would have taken 5-10 years from the discovery of the drug to administration,” he explained.
Dr Anura Kurpad, professor of physiology, St John’s National Medical College, Bangalore, agreed that all vaccines or drugs in general have side effects. “You cannot expect to administer weak or inactivated bacterium into the human body and expect everyone to just reap the benefits. Some people are bound to face unexpected side effects,” he said.
Dr Sudarshan also emphasized that among the factors that helped manage the pandemic, such as the use of face masks as well as public congregation restrictions like lockdowns, night curfews, weekend curfews and area seal-downs, the vaccine had a major role to play. He added that any occurring AEFI would be noticed within three to four weeks of getting the jab. Hence, if no reaction was seen within the time frame, one need not worry about the Covishield vaccine and its side effects.
WHO pointed out the side effect first
Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, a gastroenterologist from Kochi, Kerala, and co-chairman, National IMA COVID task force, says that TTS has several causes. It has also been linked to an extremely rare abnormal immune response to adenovirus vector vaccines. “In fact, the World Health Organisation published a report on it as early as May 2021,” he said. He added that TTS following vaccination is an extremely rare event, which only occurs within the first month. “About 30% of those with this condition recover fully. But some can have residual problems, and severe cases can prove fatal,” he said.
Dr Jayadevan added that several studies have been published about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including those used in India. “Most people did not have any significant side effects. A few people reported fever, tiredness, and some pain at the injection site for a day or two, which are common to most vaccines. However, we must remember that such rare side effects can only be seen after a very large number of people are vaccinated,” said Dr Jayadevan.
Agreeing with Dr Sudarshan, Dr Jayadevan said that crores of people in India were vaccinated — and found it beneficial. He said, “US-based studies show that 232,000 to 318,000 people died during the pandemic because they refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine. This was due to excessive fear and distrust in the system. If people in India had not taken the vaccine, our death rates would have been much higher,” said Dr Jayadevan. Dr Kurpad added, “The history of the COVID-19 vaccination and the prevailing situation needs to be considered while judging it. In the absence of effective drugs, the vaccine was the only beacon of hope.”
Takeaways
Over 174 crore doses of Covishield have been administered in India since 2021. Recent media reports highlighted that Covishield manufacturer AstraZeneca acknowledged that the Covid vaccine can have a rare side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, a rare blood clotting disorder, as a side effect of the vaccine. Doctors state that despite this side effect, the vaccine was effective in preventing deaths and reducing the risk of severe infection.
