- Vaccine linked to condition called Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombosis (VITT)
AstraZeneca is is facing tens of millions of pounds in compensation claims from 35 alleged victims over complications they say were caused by the Covid-19 vaccine.
The pharmaceutical giant, which developed its jab in partnership with the University of Oxford, is set to face a High Court battle over claims the vaccine is ‘defective’.
It has been linked to a newly identified condition called Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT) which causes blood clots.
At least 81 people have died due to complications linked to the very rare side effect while hundreds of others have also suffered illness as a result.
In what may be one of the biggest cases of its kind, more cases are expected to be lodged, meaning the vaccine manufacturer could face up to £80million in compensation payouts if it loses, according to The Telegraph.
The government indemnified AstraZeneca and other vaccine manufacturers as it sought to roll out vaccines during the pandemic.
Under Vaccine Damage Payment scheme, victims of certain vaccines, including ones used to beat Covid, are entitled to a one-off ‘all-or-nothing’ sum of £120,000 from the Government.
Tory MP Sir Jeremy Wright, whose constituent Jamie Scott suffered a ‘significant permanent brain injury’ from a blood clot after getting the job in 2021, has urged the government to take action.
The former Attorney General said: ‘The public need the confidence to know they will be looked after if in the tiny, tiny minority of cases where the vaccine has gone wrong.
‘And that confidence is damaged if the Government does not step in and settle these cases.’
The claimants are suing under the Consumer Protection Act, suggesting that the vaccine was not as safe as those who received it were led to believe.
AstraZeneca is fighting the claims, calling them ‘confused’ and ‘wrong in law’.
The company has also pointed to the millions of lives the vaccine is believed to have saved in its first year of rollout.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is not being used as part of the UK’s booster programme after experts recommended mRNA vaccines – such as the Pfizer or Moderna jabs – should be used instead.
Vaccine complications have been listed on the death certificates of a number of people who were administered the AstraZeneca jab.
Dr Stephen Wright, 32, died from a blood clot to the brain ten days after having his first dose of the AstraZeneca jab in January 2021.
In April last year, a coroner ruled the vaccine should be added to Dr Wright’s death certificate.
In another case, a rock musician known as Lord Zion suffered a severe headache and was admitted to hospital eight days after receiving the jab.
His condition worsened and he passed away in hospital on May 19, with the preliminary death certificate listing a brain bleed caused by vaccine complications as the cause.
His partner Vikki said she is still ‘pro-vaccine’ following his death, but called on the Government to better educate medical staff on the side effects and rework the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
AstraZeneca has been contacted for comment.
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