London : An Indian-origin man, Anish Tailor, is among the claimants who have initiated a legal action against the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, known as Covishield in India, citing a rare blood clot. The lawsuit, filed in the UK’s High Court, is seeking damages for the death of Anish Tailor’s wife, Alpa Tailor, 35, who passed away in April 2021, less than a month after receiving the AstraZeneca jab.
Investigations conducted in September revealed that Alpa’s death was caused by blood clots and bleeding in the brain, attributed to a condition known as Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT), believed to be associated with the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.
Another claimant, Jamie Scott, a father-of-two, suffered a significant permanent brain injury leading to his inability to work after experiencing a blood clot following the vaccine in April 2021. These cases, collectively, may pave the way for up to £80 million in payouts from 80 different claims of VITT, according to reports.
The UK High Court has labeled the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as “defective.” The court documents state that the vaccine was “defective within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act 1987,” leading to the claim for damages and interest.
“The group of individuals whom we represent have always been clear: they do not dabble in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. However, it is plainly factually inaccurate to claim that vaccines do no harm given the experience of our client group – the vaccine injured and bereaved,” commented Sarah Moore, a partner at Hausfeld, the law firm handling the claim.
Anish Tailor is seeking up to £5 million in his claim, while Jamie Scott, who received £120,000 from the Government after his injury, is pursuing legal action as the compensation proved insufficient. Scott’s wife, Kate, emphasized the pursuit of justice, stating, “We were told by the Government the vaccine was safe and effective, but what’s happened to Jamie has been life-changing, and their [AstraZeneca] vaccine caused that.”
Despite several studies highlighting AstraZeneca’s vaccine as highly effective, saving millions of lives globally, legal actions have been prompted by rare adverse effects. In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) affirmed the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness for individuals aged 18 and above, while acknowledging the rare nature of adverse effects leading to legal challenges. AstraZeneca reiterated its commitment to patient safety and expressed sympathy for those facing health problems or loss of loved ones.
