British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is currently withdrawing its COVID vaccine worldwide, months after it admitted for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, The Telegraph reported.
The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on Tuesday, the report added.
The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, was produced by the Serum Institute of India as Covishield.
READ ALSO: AstraZeneca admits its COVID vaccine, Covishield, can cause rare side effect
TTS typically manifests within a few days to a few weeks after vaccination. Symptoms include severe headache, abdominal pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath, and neurological symptoms. These symptoms can indicate the formation of blood clots in various parts of the body, such as the brain, abdomen, or lungs.
The exact cause of TTS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve an immune response triggered by the vaccine, leading to abnormal clotting and platelet destruction. Diagnosis requires clinical evaluation, imaging studies to detect blood clots, and laboratory tests to confirm low platelet counts.
READ ALSO: Covishield under scanner: Is Covaxin safe?
Treatment for TTS often involves hospitalization and specialized care, including anticoagulant therapy to prevent further clot formation and intravenous immunoglobulin to stabilize platelet levels. Prompt recognition and management are essential to prevent severe complications, including organ damage or death, associated with TTS.