Astudy conducted by physician-scientists from Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh has revealed that more than half of the recipients of the Covishield vaccine experienced only minor side effects – including fever, headaches, and body pains after the inoculation.
The study, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s multidisciplinary research laboratory, occurred within a week of getting the first dosage. Research stated that 55 per cent of people had just minor adverse signs at the injection site, while the remaining 45 per cent did not have any effect at all. Researchers also confirmed no long-term adverse effects after a year.
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“In our study, we found that 55 per cent experienced minor adverse events such as fever, headache, body aches, and pain at the injection site. The remaining 45 per cent of the recipients had no adverse events. After the second dose, only 6.8 per cent showed minor adverse events following immunization (AEFI). No participants showed any major adverse events during the one year of study,” associate professor of pathology at AMCH, Gayatri Gogoi, the principal investigator of the study was quoted by the Times of India.
The major (severe) adverse events were defined as disabling, rare life-threatening conditions that may lead to long-term problems. “The young individuals had minor adverse events than the elderly people. Those who had comorbidities or other health conditions showed less adverse events,” she added.
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According to researchers, the study was conducted from July 2021 to June 2022, after receiving approval from the Ethics Committee, incorporating the period when the vaccination had begun.
The timing of the study coincides with the latest row over British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca’s admission during a court case that the Covishield vaccine against COVID-19 has the potential to cause TTS – a rare side effect associated with blood clotting. Also known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, TTS causes blood clots and leads to low blood platelet count. The company is facing more than 50 litigations and has been sued in class action over claims its vaccine caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases.
In India, millions were vaccinated with Covishield – made by AstraZeneca in partnership with Serum Institute of India or SII – the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, for the supply of the vaccine to the Indian Government.
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Doctors deny serious side effects
Various doctors have said the side effects of the vaccine are rare, so there is no need to panic. Across the world, isolated reports of TTS after CVOID-19 vaccinations have been published since 2021.
What is TTS?
TTS occurs when your bone marrow does not make enough platelets – blood cells that form blood clots to help stop bleeding. Those who suffer from this condition do bleed a lot, and it becomes hard to stop the condition. According to doctors, thrombocytopenia affects people with certain medical conditions like autoimmune diseases or those who regularly take certain medications.
