Is The Blood-Clot Scare In Europe Over Covishield Really Justified?

Cases Of Clotting Among Vaccinated People Are No More Common Than In The General Population, Say Experts

- Abhilash Gaur

Serum Institute’s Covishield is India's main Covid vaccine. In the West, it is known as the ‘Oxford’ or ‘AstraZeneca’ vaccine. Over the past few days, 11 European countries, including Germany, France, Ireland, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, have suspended its use over fears it causes blood clots. There’s no proof yet, but as country after country hits pause, you might wonder whether Covishield is safe for you. Should you still keep your vaccine date?

The short answer is: yes. The problem — if it can be linked to the Oxford vaccine at all — has affected only 37 of the 1.7 crore Europeans vaccinated with it, says BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle. That would be roughly equal to 2,800 cases among 130 crore Indians. Considering the coronavirus has killed about 1.6 lakh Indians in the past year, the vaccine’s unproven side effects should be the least of our worries.

‘No increase in cases’