AstraZeneca continues to face legal action even after withdrawing its COVID vaccine! Know all about it here

AstraZeneca made headlines on Tuesday as it initiated the global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine. This decision comes weeks after the pharmaceutical giant acknowledged the vaccine's potential to trigger a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).

Previously, AstraZeneca had admitted in court filings that its vaccine could lead to side effects like blood clots and low blood platelet counts. However, the company has now attributed its vaccine withdrawal not to the aforementioned side effects, but to an "oversupply of updated vaccines" since the pandemic.

The company also announced its decision to revoke the vaccine Vaxzevria's marketing authorisations within Europe, noting that the oversupply has reduced the demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being produced or distributed.

According to The Telegraph, AstraZeneca had submitted its application to withdraw the vaccine on March 5, and the withdrawal became effective on May 7.

AstraZeneca collaborated with the University of Oxford to develop the Vaxzevria vaccine, while also partnering with the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, to supply the Covishield vaccine to the Indian government.

The UK-based pharma company is currently facing legal action alleging that its vaccine has caused deaths and severe harm to a few of those who received it.
The lawsuits against AstraZeneca
Families of individuals affected by adverse vaccine reactions continue to pursue legal recourse against AstraZeneca and the Serum Institute of India.

Venugopalan Govindan, whose daughter Karunya passed away after receiving the Covishield vaccine, expressed his grief and criticised various parties for his daughter's death. He highlighted alleged negligence in responding to early warning signs and cited missed opportunities to prevent tragedies like his daughter's passing.

Eight families across India have joined forces to seek justice, emphasising their collective determination to hold accountable those they deem responsible for the tragic loss of their loved ones. Their shared resolve underscores their commitment to achieving justice and preventing similar tragedies from occurring again, he added.

In the UK, Jamie Scott took legal action last year after suffering from a blood clot and brain bleed following his vaccination in April 2021.

AstraZeneca initially denied a causal link between the vaccine and this particular side-effect, but later admitted in court documents that the vaccine could cause TTS in very rare cases.

As many as 51 cases have reportedly been filed against AstraZeneca in the British High Court, with affected individuals and families seeking compensation totaling an estimated £100 million.

(With inputs from multiple agencies)