In response to AstraZeneca’s admission of potential blood clots as a rare side effect of its vaccine, a group of doctors under the banner of the Awaken India Movement (AIM) has raised concerns over the safety of Covishield, the Indian-manufactured version of the vaccine. At a press conference, the doctors emphasized the need for scientific investigation and epidemiological studies to assess the safety of Covid vaccines thoroughly.
According to Dr. Tarun Kothari, a radiologist and activist, the government has ignored the rising number of post-vaccination deaths, promoting the vaccines as safe and effective without due diligence. Dr. Sujata Mittal, a gynecologist and oncologist, highlighted the low awareness about vaccine injuries in India and the lack of comprehensive information on potential side effects during the initial vaccine rollouts.
The AIM has been collecting data on Covid vaccine-related deaths and sharing it with authorities since 2021. However, they allege that the government has failed to respond adequately to their requests for investigations into these deaths. The doctors urged the government to compensate victims and their families, establish fast-track courts for vaccine injury cases, and implement active surveillance to identify adverse events promptly.
Additionally, they demanded a review of the science behind all Covid vaccines and an audit of their commercialization. AstraZeneca has initiated a global withdrawal of its vaccine, known as Covishield in India, citing the availability of updated vaccines. In India, the Serum Institute of India, the vaccine’s local manufacturer, has ceased production since December 2021, stating that all potential side effects were disclosed in the packaging insert.
