AAP Leader Queries Indian Government Over Covishield Vaccine Amid Global Withdrawal

Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj raised concerns regarding the Indian government’s decision to continue the use of the Covishield vaccine despite bans imposed by several European nations due to reported side effects. Bharadwaj’s remarks came after AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of the vaccine, withdrew it from worldwide distribution following acknowledgment of a rare and dangerous side effect in court documents.

In a post on social media platform X, Bharadwaj highlighted that while many European countries had halted the use of Covishield in March 2021 due to reported side effects, the Indian government persisted in its administration. The withdrawal of the vaccine by AstraZeneca came after facing legal challenges in the UK.

AstraZeneca announced that the withdrawal was due to commercial reasons and stated that updated vaccines targeting new variants had superseded Covishield. The company’s application to withdraw the vaccine was filed on March 5 and took effect on May 7, resulting in its removal from markets where it had been authorized for use.

The decision to withdraw the vaccine was attributed to concerns over a very rare side effect causing blood clots and low blood platelet counts. AstraZeneca had previously acknowledged this side effect in court documents, referring to it as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

However, AstraZeneca denied any connection between the withdrawal and the TTS admission, terming the timing a coincidence. The company reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety and emphasized the overall safety profile of the vaccine.

Despite the rare occurrence of side effects, AstraZeneca reiterated that extensive clinical trial data and real-world evidence consistently supported the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Regulatory agencies worldwide continue to endorse the vaccine’s use, maintaining that its benefits outweigh the risks of extremely rare side effects.