LONDON:
UK-based AstraZeneca has acknowledged in court that its Covid vaccine can cause a rare blood clotting condition, British media reports said on Monday.
This follows a class action lawsuit brought by families who allege harm caused by the pharmaceutical giant’s vaccine. The admission comes amid legal proceedings triggered by claims that the vaccine led to serious health complications, The Daily Mail reported.
In a legal document submitted to a UK court in February, the Cambridge-based company conceded that its vaccine “can, in very rare cases, cause TTS,” referring to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. This condition involves the formation of blood clots accompanied by a low platelet count, which is critical for blood clotting.
Previously known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), this exceedingly rare complication has been listed as a potential side effect of the jab. According to the British daily, AstraZeneca’s admission paves the way for case-by-case settlements concerning individuals affected by the adverse reaction.
In the wake of the lawsuit, AstraZeneca has come out to express sympathy for those affected by adverse reactions to its vaccine while reaffirming its commitment to patient safety. The company underlined regulatory authorities’ stringent safety standards and reiterated the vaccine’s overall safety profile.
