A recent study has revealed that the rare but deadly blood clots associated with the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Plc’s COVID-19 vaccines are triggered by an autoimmune reaction in genetically predisposed individuals. This finding is expected to impact the development of future vaccines, according to Bloomberg. The adenovirus-based vaccines, similar to the J&J and AstraZeneca shots, contain a component that can cause blood clots in susceptible individuals.
Following the admission by AstraZeneca that its Covid vaccine can cause blood clots in rare cases, the Awaken India Movement (AIM) has expressed concerns about the safety of the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. AIM doctors have called on the Indian government to reevaluate the science behind all Covid-19 vaccines and to ensure rigorous monitoring and surveillance of vaccine-related adverse events. They have also highlighted the lack of complete phase-3 trial data for Covishield, the low awareness of vaccine injuries in India, and the need for fast-track vaccine courts.
The Canadian government has increased funding for its vaccine injury compensation program by $36.4 million, bringing the total allocated to over $111 million. The program, which was launched in 2020, provides financial support to individuals who suffer severe or life-altering injuries as a result of Health Canada-approved vaccines. As of December 2023, over $11 million in compensation has been paid to eligible claimants.
Vaccine giants Pfizer and Moderna are embroiled in a legal battle over the use of mRNA technology in their respective Covid-19 vaccines. The dispute has sparked parallel litigation in multiple countries, with Moderna accusing Pfizer and its partner BioNTech of patent infringement. Pfizer and BioNTech deny the allegations and seek to revoke Moderna’s patents. The trial in the London High Court is expected to last three and a half weeks and focus on the validity of two Moderna patents.
