Lawyer Moves Supreme Court Seeking Examination Of Covishield Vaccine Side Effects, Compensation For Those Who Suffered Adverse Effects

After reports of pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca admitting that its Covishield vaccine can cause rare side-effects, a lawyer has moved the Supreme Court seeking constitution of a Medical Expert Panel to examine side-effects and risk factors of the said vaccine as well as compensation of those who were severely disable or died due to the vaccination drive.

The plea is filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, highlighting AstraZeneca's admission that its AZD1222 vaccine against Covid-19 (licensed and sold as Covishield in India) can cause low platelet count and formation of blood clots in "very rare" cases.

"AstraZeneca has accepted a link between the vaccine and Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a medical condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets and the formation of blood clots", states the plea.

Tiwari adds that the formula was licensed to Pune-based Serum Institute of India and more than 175 crore Covishield vaccines were administered in the country. He flags that since Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of deaths due to heart attack and sudden collapse of persons.

"Now after the document filed in UK court by the developer of COVISHEILD we are compelled to think upon the risk and hazardous consequences of COVISHEILD vaccine which have been administered to the citizens at a large number."

Tiwari avers that Covishield vaccines were administered on Indian government's approach and assurance that it was safe. Citing the Vaccine Damage Payment System in the United Kingdom, it is prayed that those severely disabled by the vaccine be compensated and the Union government take up the matter on priority so that health of people is not put at risk in future.

The reliefs sought are reproduced below:

(1) Issue directions to Constitute in the interest of health safety an Medical Expert Panel comprising of Medical Experts from All India Institute of Medical Science, Delhi Headed by its Director and Supervised by the Retired Honorable Justice of Supreme Court of India to examine the COVISHEILD VACCINE Side Effects and its risk factors;

(2) Issue directions to the Union of India to Establish a Vaccine Damage Payment System for the Citizens who got severely disabled as a result of a vaccination Drive during Covid 19;

(3) Issue directions to Union of India to Compensate the People who are severely disabled or died because of the side effects of Corona vaccine administered to them during Covid 19

Also Read - AstraZeneca Statement On Rare Vaccine Side Effect : Recalling Supreme Court Verdict On Covid Vaccine Trials & AEFI Reporting