(VOVWORLD) - AstraZeneca is facing class action suits over claims that its COVID-19 vaccine, developed in conjunction with the University of Oxford, caused serious injury or death in dozens of cases.
 AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
The first case against the company was lodged by Jamie Scott. Ten days after the jab, Scott complained of tiredness and started vomiting. Soon after, his speech became impaired and he had to be taken to the hospital. He survived the ordeal but was left with a permanent brain injury.
Alongside Scott, 51 additional cases have been lodged against the company, with victims and grieving relatives seeking damages estimated to be worth up to 125 million USD.
AstraZeneca, which is contesting the claims, acknowledged in a February legal document that its vaccine can “in very rare cases” cause a condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS. TTS causes people to have blood clots and a low blood platelet count.
The company stated in the document that TTS can happen even if there is no vaccination, adding that expert testimony will be required to determine causation in every individual case.
AstraZeneca asserted from the evidence found during clinical trials and in real world data, that its COVID vaccine has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world have consistently stated that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.
Independent studies show that the AstraZeneca vaccine was incredibly effective in tackling the pandemic, helping save more than six million lives globally in the first year of its rollout.