Fact Check: Are Indians Who Got Covishield Vaccine Susceptible To TTS?

AstraZeneca, which developed and manufactured the Covid vaccine Covishield. recently admitted that the vaccine could cause TTS (a condition that may cause blood clots and low platelet count) as a side effect in some people.

May 1, 2024 - 17:00
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Fact Check: Are Indians Who Got Covishield Vaccine Susceptible To TTS?

AstraZeneca, which developed and manufactured the Covid vaccine Covishield. recently admitted that the vaccine could cause TTS (a condition that may cause blood clots and low platelet count) as a side effect in some people. Since the news came out, social media has been abuzz with posts about Covishield, which was one of the two vaccines available in India during the pandemic. Some of these posts claim most Indians are at risk of TTS now. A fact check by The Healthy Indian Project (THIP) indicates that the claim is only half true. While the risk of TTS is true, the probability is "very rare".

The Claim

The Indian government has been blamed in multiple social media posts for allowing the Covishield vaccine in the country and putting people at risk for vaccination-induced Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). This allegation stems from AstraZeneca's acknowledgment in UK court about the fact that their vaccines can cause rare side effects. One such post blaming the Indian government can be seen below:

Fact Check

What is TTS? What are its symptoms?

Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) is a serious health condition that causes low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and clots blood (thrombosis) within the body. The condition is linked to adenovirus vector vaccines launched during Covid-19.

The noted symptoms of the condition range from shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, severe and continuous headaches, and stomach aches. Affected persons suffer from easy bruising.

Do AstraZeneca Covid vaccines cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)?
Yes, but as a rare side effect. It is important to understand that as stated by the company and proven by earlier research, not everyone who was administered Astra Zeneca Covid vaccines will be affected with TTS.

The multinational pharmaceutical corporation AstraZeneca has admitted that its COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222, may lead to a rare occurrence of decreased platelet levels and blood clot formation. AstraZeneca has acknowledged a connection between the vaccine and Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a medical condition distinguished by unusually low platelet levels and the development of blood clots. This statement comes in answer to lawsuits filed against the company in UK court. This is the same vaccine that is manufactured under the name Covishield in India.

The company has mentioned in its legal papers that though there is a chance for TTS to occur, it is "rare" and "uncommon".

How do Covishield and AstraZeneca relate to each other?

AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, developed the COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University. The same vaccine is licensed for manufacture by the Serum Institute of India under the brand name Covishield. In Europe, the vaccine is sold under the brand name Vaxzevria. In short, both vaccines are identical in their formulation but are manufactured and distributed in different geographies.

AstraZeneca's vaccine is categorised under the adenovirus vector vaccine. Based on clinical trials, both of these vaccinations show 60–80% protection against COVID-19 infection beginning two weeks following the second dosage.

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine the only vaccine related to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)?

No. TTS is linked to other Covid vaccines too. Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine named Janssen has also been linked with the condition. In 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) noted TTS as an adverse effect to adenovirus vector-based vaccines.

In a 2023 report by Yale Medicine hematologist Robert Bona, MD, explained, "Those clots typically occur in individuals who are bedridden, hospitalized, or have other medical issues related to inflammation, infection, or cancer."

So, the current revelation is not completely new.

Is the Covishield-vaccinated Indian population at risk of acquiring TTS?

A little. But there is still no reason to panic.

It should be made clear that Covishield, the Indian version of AstraZeneca, is the most widely administered Indian vaccine. There have been a limited number of cases of TTS so far reported across the country in the last few years. If there were large-scale deaths due to TTS resulting from vaccination, it surely would have been noticed and reported in the media.

It also needs to be understood that Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), including vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), is an extremely rare side-effect mostly seen post-initial vaccination. Earlier research has also shown that other vaccine-induced complications like CVST, have not yet been documented in India despite the widespread use of Covishield.

Vaccinations have been demonstrated to be highly effective and safe in halting the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is a remote chance of rare adverse effects such as TTS and VITT. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are key for patient management. It should be emphasized that the safety profiles of the vaccines are meticulously monitored by the regulatory authorities.

Saying that all Indians are at risk of dying due to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) and that it has been a government failure, is an exaggeration of the entire situation and misleading.

The Healthy Indian Project (THIP) is a member of the World Health Organization's Vaccine Safety Net (VSN) and provides accurate information about vaccines. We have already fact-checked the accuracy of several COVID-19 vaccination-related claims that have been circulated on social media. These mostly include the claims that vaccines are poisonous, harmful to the brain, and more damaging than preventive.

Are side-effects common with all vaccines?

Yes. Mild side effects are not very uncommon for most vaccines. But these side effects like fever and pain are temporary. In the case of vaccinations, most medical professionals believe the side effects are far lesser compared to the benefits the vaccines provide.

As per the website of the World Health Organization (WHO), "Vaccines are very safe. Like any medicine, vaccines can cause side effects. However, these are usually very minor and of short duration, such as a sore arm or a mild fever. More serious side effects are possible but extremely rare".

Should you be concerned if you are vaccinated with Covishield?

No. As of now, there is no reason to panic.

Dr. Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid Task Force in Kerala, told ANI, "It's a rare occurrence following specific types of vaccines and other causes." Also, in rare cases when TTS is reported, it is mostly within a few weeks of vaccinations. So, stay vigilant and consult a doctor in case you face any of the symptoms of TTS.

(This story was originally published by THIP Media, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective.)

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