In a recent development, the parents of a young woman who reportedly passed away after receiving the Covishield vaccine are planning to sue AstraZeneca, the British pharmaceutical giant behind the COVID-19 vaccine, and Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine maker responsible for manufacturing Covishield.

The move comes in the wake of AstraZeneca’s acknowledgment in a UK court that its COVID-19 vaccine can lead to rare side effects, including blood clots and low platelet count. The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca, was manufactured by SII in India under the name Covishield and widely distributed in the country.

Venugopalan Govindan, who tragically lost his 20-year-old daughter Karunya in 2021, expressed frustration at the timing of AstraZeneca’s admission, stating that it came “too late” and after “so many lives have been lost.” Govindan criticized both AstraZeneca and SII, suggesting that they should have halted the vaccine’s supply after several European countries restricted its usage due to reported deaths from blood clots.

Govindan further accused SII, the Indian government, and regulatory bodies of negligence, alleging that they failed to adequately inform the public and medical professionals about the potential risks associated with Covishield despite emerging data on adverse events from around the world.

AstraZeneca’s admission in court papers quotes that its COVID-19 vaccine may cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), an extremely rare immunological reaction observed after COVID-19 immunization. TTS is characterized by blood clots, particularly in the cerebral venous sinuses of the brain, leading to decreased platelet count and an increased risk of bleeding or blood clots in various parts of the body.

While AstraZeneca acknowledged the rare side effect, Serum Institute of India is yet to comment on the matter. However, Govindan asserted that both SII and its CEO Adar Poonawalla must be held accountable for the lives lost due to Covishield.