AstraZeneca Admits COVID Vaccine Can Cause Rare Blood Clots in UK Court Battle

In a significant development, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has acknowledged in court documents that its COVID-19 vaccine can cause a rare and potentially deadly blood clotting side effect known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). The admission comes as part of the company's legal defense against a £100 million class action lawsuit filed by dozens of families who allege their loved ones were maimed or killed by the vaccine.

The landmark case, being heard in the High Court, involves 51 claimants seeking damages over accusations that some doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, were defective. The lead plaintiff, Jamie Scott, suffered a permanent brain injury after developing a blood clot and brain bleed following vaccination. Lawyers representing the victims argue that the vaccine is "defective" and its efficacy has been "vastly overstated," claims which AstraZeneca denies.

While AstraZeneca had previously denied the generic causation of TTS by its vaccine, the company has now acknowledged in court documents that the jab can, in very rare cases, lead to this condition. "AstraZeneca admits that the vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS," the document states. However, the exact causal mechanism behind TTS remains unknown, and the company maintains that the trigger causing some individuals to suffer from the condition after receiving the vaccine is still unclear.

Why this matters: The admission by AstraZeneca marks a significant shift in the company's stance on the potential side effects of its widely-administered COVID-19 vaccine. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for vaccine manufacturers' liability and compensation for those affected by rare but serious adverse reactions.

The UK government has pledged to underwrite AstraZeneca's legal expenses, having indemnified the company against legal action. However, if the vaccine is found to be the cause of serious illness or death in specific cases, AstraZeneca's admission could pave the way for multi-million-pound payouts. The victims' families are seeking an apology, fair compensation, and a quicker resolution to the case. AstraZeneca maintains that the vaccine has an acceptable safety profile and that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.

Key Takeaways

• AstraZeneca admits its COVID-19 vaccine can cause rare blood clotting side effect
• 51 claimants seek £100M in damages over alleged defective AstraZeneca vaccine
• Vaccine's efficacy "vastly overstated," claim victims' lawyers, denied by AstraZeneca
• UK govt indemnified AstraZeneca, but admission could lead to multi-million payouts
• AstraZeneca maintains vaccine has acceptable safety profile, benefits outweigh risks