Serum Institute of India – No Covishield Production Since December 2021, Side Effects Disclosed

AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant headquartered in Britain and Sweden, initiated a global recall of its Covid-19 vaccine, prompting Serum Institute of India (SII) based in Pune to cease the production and distribution of additional Covishield doses in December 2021. This decision followed AstraZeneca's voluntary withdrawal of the ‘marketing authorisation’ for its Covid vaccine, marketed as Covishield in India and Vaxzevria in Europe.

According to a statement from an SII spokesperson to IANS, the significant vaccination rates achieved by India in 2021 and 2022, alongside the emergence of new mutant variant strains, led to a substantial decrease in the demand for earlier vaccines. Consequently, SII discontinued the production and supply of additional Covishield doses since December 2021.

Expressing a deep understanding of the ongoing concerns regarding vaccine safety, SII emphasised its unwavering commitment to transparency and safety. The company highlighted its practice of disclosing all rare to very rare side effects, including Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia syndrome, in the packaging insert since 2021. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Syndrome is a rare side effect associated with blood clots and low blood platelet count, linked to numerous serious illnesses and at least 81 deaths in the UK.

Despite the challenges encountered during the global pandemic, SII stressed that vaccine safety remains of utmost importance. They highlighted the instrumental role played by both AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria and their own Covishield in saving millions of lives worldwide.

The Serum Institute also commended the collaborative efforts of governments and ministries worldwide in facilitating a unified global response to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca is facing legal action from more than 50 alleged victims and grieving relatives in a High Court case in the UK, further adding to the complexity surrounding the vaccine's usage and safety.