AstraZeneca Vaccine Linked to Rare Bleeding Disorder: Legal Admission

The Vaccine's Impact

AstraZeneca has acknowledged for the first time in court documents that its Covid vaccine can cause a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). This admission could pave the way for a multi-million pound legal payout to individuals who have suffered from TTS after receiving the vaccine.

The admission came in response to a class action lawsuit filed by dozens of victims and grieving relatives who claim that the vaccine caused death or serious injury. AstraZeneca initially contested the claims but later accepted in a legal document that its vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS." This side effect can lead to blood clots and a low blood platelet count.

The admission is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the vaccine's safety. Lawyers for the claimants argue that the vaccine is "defective" and that its efficacy has been "vastly overstated," claims that AstraZeneca strongly denies.

Legal Proceedings

The class action lawsuit against AstraZeneca is being brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. The claimants argue that the vaccine was not as safe as individuals were entitled to expect and that AstraZeneca is liable for the injuries and losses they have suffered as a result.

The first case was lodged last year by Jamie Scott, a father of two, who was left with a permanent brain injury after developing a blood clot and a bleed on the brain after receiving the vaccine. The hospital called his wife three times to tell her that her husband was going to die.

Fifty-one cases have been lodged in the High Court, with victims and grieving relatives seeking damages estimated to be worth up to £100 million. AstraZeneca is contesting the claims but has accepted that its vaccine can cause TTS in rare cases.

Government Involvement

The Government has indemnified AstraZeneca against any legal action but has so far refused to intervene. The Government runs its own vaccine compensation scheme, but alleged victims claim the one-off payment of £120,000 is inadequate.

Figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request show that out of 163 payouts made by the Government by February this year, at least 158 went to recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The admission by AstraZeneca could lead to payouts if the drug firm accepts that the vaccine was the cause of serious illness and death in specific legal cases.