Mumbai, May 2: The family of Karunya Venugopalan, who passed away in July 2021, is contemplating legal action against the Serum Institute of India (SII). This comes after AstraZeneca acknowledged in a UK court that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, could potentially cause rare but serious side effects.

Covishield, developed in collaboration with Oxford University and produced by SII, was extensively used across India. Despite the national committee's finding of insufficient evidence to link Karunya's death to the vaccine, her parents are considering suing the institute. Covishield Vaccine Side Effects: Centre Should Urgently Address Alleged Side-Effects of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Vaccine, Says Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.

Previously, several parents had taken legal steps against the government and related authorities, holding the vaccine responsible for their children's deaths. However, SII was not implicated in these cases.

The backdrop of this potential lawsuit is a class-action suit in the UK, where AstraZeneca is currently involved. The pharmaceutical giant has admitted that its vaccine may lead to a rare condition characterized by blood clots and low platelet counts. Covishield by AstraZeneca or Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, Which COVID-19 Vaccine You Have Taken? Here's How to Check Name of Coronavirus Vaccine Administered to You.

The Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, marketed as 'Covishield' and 'Vaxzevria' among other names, has been discontinued in the UK due to these safety concerns. Although independent research has confirmed the vaccine's efficacy against COVID-19, the emergence of these rare side effects has led to increased regulatory scrutiny and subsequent legal challenges.

The UK lawsuit was initiated by Jamie Scott, who sustained a permanent brain injury post-vaccination in April 2021. The case has brought to light the complexities of vaccine side effects and the legal implications for manufacturers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2024 04:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).