• UGI USER
  • May 02, 2024
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“SC PETITION REQUESTS EXPERT PANEL TO PROBE COVISHIELD VACCINE’S SAFETY.”

Why in the news?

“Supreme Court petition seeks expert panel to investigate Covishield vaccine’s safety after AstraZeneca’s blood clot concerns.”

source:slideserve

About Plea for Vaccine Safety Probe:

  • Advocate Vishal Tiwari filed a petition in the Supreme Court concerning the safety of the Covishield vaccine.
  • The petition requests the formation of an expert medical panel to investigate the vaccine’s risk factors.
  • AstraZeneca, the developer of the vaccine, acknowledged in a U.K. court that its AZD1222 vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India as Covishield, may lead to low platelet counts and blood clot formation in rare instances.
About  AstraZeneca:

  • Global biopharmaceutical company.
  • Prioritises science-led innovation to enhance medicine’s impact on patients.
  • Aims to transform healthcare through scientific advancements.

Understanding Covishield :

Covishield Origins:

  • Developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Produced in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII) under the name Covishield.

Covishield in India:

  • The Indian government advised caution for individuals with low platelet counts while administering Covishield.
  • Vaccination started in India on January 16, 2021, with a reported rate of 0.61 thromboembolic events per million doses.

What is Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)?

  • Rare condition characterised by blood clot formation (thrombosis) and low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia).
  • Associated with certain COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those using adenovirus vectors like Covishield.
  • Adenovirus vectors are efficient gene delivery vehicles commonly used in gene therapy, vaccination, and cancer treatment.