A group of doctors has expressed concerns over the safety of Covishield vaccine, expressing deep concern over the possibility of blood clots as a rare side effect. They have urged the government to review the science behind all COVID vaccines, audit their commercialization, and implement active surveillance to identify adverse events as early as possible.
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.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Misa Bharti has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo was removed from COVID-19 vaccination certificates due to ongoing concerns regarding the Covishield vaccine. Bharti’s statement follows reports of AstraZeneca admitting that Covishield carries a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) in court documents in the UK. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare attributed the removal of PM Modi’s photo to the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections. AstraZeneca has emphasized the vaccine’s overall safety profile while reiterating its commitment to patient safety. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the BJP, claiming that people who received the vaccine will vote against the party due to concerns about its safety.
