LONDON, April 29: A significant development has emerged in the legal battle surrounding AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, as the pharmaceutical giant has admitted for the first time in court documents that its vaccine can cause a rare side effect. This admission, made in an apparent about-turn, could pave the way for substantial legal payouts amounting to millions of pounds.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against AstraZeneca, alleging that its vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, has led to death and serious injury in numerous cases. Central to the claims is the contention that the vaccine triggered a rare side effect with devastating consequences for affected families.

The legal proceedings were initiated last year by Jamie Scott, a father of two, who suffered permanent brain injury after experiencing a blood clot and brain bleed following vaccination in April 2021. AstraZeneca, while contesting the claims, has conceded in a legal document submitted to the High Court in February that its Covid vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS" (Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome).

TTS, characterized by blood clots and a low blood platelet count, has been the subject of intense legal scrutiny, with fifty-one cases currently before the High Court. The potential damages sought by victims and their families are estimated to reach up to £100 million.

The acknowledgment by AstraZeneca follows a year of legal wrangling and could signal the beginning of payouts if the company accepts responsibility for specific cases of serious illness and death linked to the vaccine. Notably, the Government has committed to covering AstraZeneca's legal expenses.

While AstraZeneca maintains that the vaccine's benefit-to-risk profile remains positive, the company's admission of the vaccine's association with TTS marks a significant shift in its stance. However, it has not conceded that the vaccine is inherently defective, as alleged by lawyers representing claimants.

Despite AstraZeneca's acknowledgment, the Government has yet to intervene directly in the legal proceedings, opting instead to indemnify the pharmaceutical company against any legal action. Families affected by the vaccine's adverse effects continue to seek fair compensation, calling for expedited resolution and accountability from both AstraZeneca and the Government.

The admission by AstraZeneca comes amid ongoing debates over vaccine safety and efficacy, underscoring the complexities surrounding mass vaccination campaigns. As legal battles unfold, the broader implications for public health policy and corporate accountability remain under scrutiny.