The baggage of COVID-19 : Global concern lingers over vaccine safety – ETHealthWorld

Mumbai: Earlier today, The Economic Times published a story that a third of the participants of an observational study on the side effects of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin reported adverse events of special interest (AESI), according to a report on SpringerLink.

As per the report, researchers found that female adolescents and those with a history of allergy were at a higher risk of AESI after receiving Covaxin. Of the 1,024 individuals enrolled, 635 adolescents and 291 adults could be contacted during the one-year follow-up. According to the study, 304 (47.9 per cent) adolescents and 124 (42.6 per cent) adults reported viral upper respiratory tract infections.

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Recently, there has been a whirlwind of reports on several COVID-19 vaccines and their adverse events globally. AstraZeneca has admitted that its jab causes a rare side effect and is withdrawing its vaccine worldwide. The company has already withdrawn its EU marketing authorisation for the vaccine, which was branded Vaxzevira in Europe and Covishield in India and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Another report titled 'COVID-19: Two rare vaccine side effects detected in large global study' published in Vaccine, confirmed previously identified rare safety signals for myocarditis and pericarditis after a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer and Moderna) and Guillain-Barr syndrome and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) after viral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca).

These recent studies highlight notable adverse events globally caused by COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of the technology and manufacturer. Bharat Biotech has emphasised the need for more comprehensive data to ensure unbiased and informative safety evaluations. Several studies have reported rare side effects from AstraZeneca's vaccine and mRNA vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer.

This underscores the ongoing need for rigorous safety monitoring and transparent reporting. Ensuring the safety of not only COVID-19 vaccines but every vaccine that is approved remains paramount, and continued research is crucial for improving vaccine safety and public confidence. Manufacturers need to take patient safety as a top priority when developing vaccines.

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The baggage of COVID-19 : Global concern lingers over vaccine safety - ETHealthWorld