PIL Filed in Supreme Court to Review Covishield Vaccine Side Effects, Seeks Compensation for Those Who Suffered Adverse Effect.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Following news that pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca acknowledged its vaccine could lead to rare side effects, a lawyer filed a PIL before Supreme Court to establish a Medical Expert Panel to investigate the vaccine’s side effects and associated risk factors. The petition also requested compensation for individuals who became severely disabled or died as a result of the vaccination program.
Advocate Vishal Tiwari has filed a petition, pointing to AstraZeneca’s acknowledgment that its COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222 (marketed in India as Covishield), may cause low platelet counts and blood clot formation in “very rare” cases.
The UK-based news outlet, The Telegraph, recently reported on a legal case that was initiated last year by Jamie Scott, a father of two children. According to the report, Scott suffered a severe brain injury, which occurred due to a blood clot and brain haemorrhage, following his COVID-19 vaccination in April 2021.
The brain injury has left him permanently unable to work. The report further detailed that Scott’s lawsuit is one of 51 cases currently pending in the UK High Court, with various claimants seeking compensation for vaccine-related injuries or deaths. The cumulative value of these claims is estimated to reach as much as £100 million. The report also referenced court documents from February in which AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of the vaccine in question, refuted claims that the vaccine was responsible for causing Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) as a general effect.
Legal Implications: The outcome of these cases could set important precedents regarding vaccine safety, manufacturer liability, and compensation for those harmed by vaccines. If the plaintiffs can prove a causal link between the vaccine and their injuries, AstraZeneca may face significant financial liability.
Public Health and Safety: While individual cases like these are serious and deserve thorough investigation, it’s important to remember the broader context of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. Vaccines, including those developed by AstraZeneca, have played a crucial role in reducing the severity of the pandemic, preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. The occurrence of adverse events, although concerning, is typically rare in relation to the total number of doses administered.
Given the seriousness of this topic, it will be crucial to follow the court cases and any related investigations to understand their outcomes and potential impacts on vaccine manufacturers, healthcare policies, and public confidence in vaccines.
In India large number of Covishield were administered to the citizens during Covid-19 pandemic vaccine drive, with the assurances of the government of its safety and no adverse effect on health, Tiwari said in his plea.
The plea submitted in Court claims that since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of deaths resulting from heart attacks and sudden collapses, including among younger individuals. The plea highlights concerns following recent court filings in the UK by the developer of Covishield, indicating a potential link between the vaccine and these adverse outcomes. Given the widespread administration of the Covishield vaccine across India, these developments call for serious consideration of its risks and potential hazardous effects, the plea asserts.
Tiwari has urged the government to take urgent measures to safeguard the health and safety of Indian citizens. He has stressed that the Union Government must prioritize this issue to ensure that no future risks threaten the health and lives of the Indian populace.
Petitioner Tiwari, who is pursuing compensation for adverse effects caused by a vaccine, pointed out that certain countries, like the UK, have established a vaccine damage payment system to support individuals who suffer severe disabilities as a result of vaccination. He suggests that a similar mechanism should be implemented to provide financial assistance to those affected by severe side effects from vaccines.
