Side Effects of Covishield Vaccine:
The “Covishield” vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and produced by the Serum Institute of India has been a cornerstone in the fight against COVID-19. As with any vaccine understanding its side effects is crucial for informed consent and public trust.
Covishield is a viral vector vaccine that uses a modified chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver a portion of the “SARS-CoV-2” virus genetic material into the body. This triggers an immune response preparing the body to fight the real virus if it encounters it.
The majority of side effects are mild to moderate and resolve within a few days. These include:
1.Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
2.Fatigue and malaise
3.Headaches
4.Fever and chills
5.Muscle or joint pain
6.Nausea
7.Rare but Serious Side Effects
Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) is a rare but serious condition that has been associated with adenovirus vector vaccines like Covishield. TTS is characterized by blood clots in conjunction with low levels of blood platelets.
TTS may experience:
1.Severe or persistent headaches
2.Blurred vision
3.Shortness of breath
4.Chest pain
5.Leg swelling
6.Persistent abdominal pain
7.Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site
The incidence of TTS is extremely low with cases occurring in about one in 50,000 individuals. However given the large number of people vaccinated the absolute number of cases can seem significant.
Despite the rare risk of ‘TTS’ the benefits of the Covishield vaccine in preventing COVID-19 a disease that can cause severe illness or death far outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.
How was this going on in the High Court of England as well? The lawyers of this company have given a statement that this vaccine causes many side effects and the vaccine manufacturing company has accepted this fact that some side effects are being seen in the people who have taken this vaccine. And this is a very shocking thing because 2 billion people around the world have got this vaccine.
Vaccine safety is continuously monitored and the recognition of TTS as a potential side effect is a testament to the robustness of this process. It ensures that even rare side effects are identified and evaluated.
Covishield has played a pivotal role in reducing the spread and severity of COVID-19. While it is important to be aware of potential side effects, it is equally important to understand their rarity and the robust safety monitoring that accompanies vaccine rollout.