Notification:
Expressing deep concern over Covishield's safety, particularly in light of AstraZeneca's admission in a UK court regarding rare blood clotting cases linked to its COVID vaccine, doctors in New Delhi underlined the imperative for a thorough scientific assessment of all COVID vaccines. They advocated for scrutinizing the commercialization process and establishing an active surveillance and monitoring mechanism to promptly identify vaccine adverse effects.
Dr. Kothari further underscored the emergence of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) as a notable side effect of the COVID vaccine. Dr. Sujata Mittal, a gynecologist and oncologist, raised awareness about the commencement of COVID-19 vaccine administration without the completion of phase-3 trials, stressing the lack of comprehensive data on potential short-term or long-term side effects, including fatalities.
Dr. Mittal also highlighted the underappreciated awareness of vaccine injuries in India, referencing a study confirming menstrual cycle abnormalities as a vaccine side effect. The Awaken India Movement (AIM) has diligently collected data on COVID-related deaths in India since 2021, urging the government to investigate and respond to these adverse effects.
The AIM called upon the Indian government to compensate victims of COVID vaccines and their families, proposing the involvement of vaccine manufacturers in the compensation mechanism. Dr. Mittal advocated for the establishment of fast-track and vaccine courts to ensure prompt justice for the vaccine-injured and emphasized the need for active surveillance, early identification of adverse events, and widespread dissemination of treatment protocols.
Dr. Kothari reiterated the importance of reviewing the scientific basis and scrutinizing the commercialization of all COVID vaccines. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca's global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, known as Covishield in India, followed its acknowledgment of rare side effects, prompting the Serum Institute of India to halt additional Covishield dose production since December 2021. Despite this, AstraZeneca and Oxford University's collaboration on the vaccine, marketed as Vaxzevria in Europe, continues.