AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giant, has made a significant admission in court documents regarding its Covid vaccine, acknowledging for the first time that it can cause a rare side effect. This revelation comes amidst a class-action lawsuit alleging that the vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, led to death and serious injury in numerous cases.
The legal battle began with Jamie Scott, a father of two, who suffered a permanent brain injury after experiencing a blood clot and brain bleed following his vaccination in April 2021. His condition has left him unable to work, with the hospital even informing his wife that he was on the brink of death.
While AstraZeneca is challenging the claims, it has conceded in a legal filing to the High Court that the vaccine can, in rare instances, result in Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), characterized by blood clots and low platelet count. This acknowledgment could potentially open the door to substantial financial compensation, with fifty-one cases currently pending in the High Court seeking damages amounting to an estimated £100 million.
The admission by AstraZeneca, made in response to Mr. Scott’s claim, follows extensive legal negotiations and could prompt the company to compensate in cases where the vaccine is proven to have caused severe illness or death. The Government has committed to covering AstraZeneca’s legal expenses in this matter.
Despite previously refuting the link between TTS and the vaccine, AstraZeneca’s legal submission in February stated, “It is admitted that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. The causal mechanism is not known. Further, TTS can also occur in the absence of the AZ vaccine (or any vaccine). Causation in any individual case will be a matter for expert evidence.”
Lawyers representing the affected individuals argue that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is inherently flawed and has had devastating consequences for some recipients. The unfolding legal proceedings are poised to shed further light on the complexities surrounding vaccine side effects and the responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies in such cases.
