AstraZeneca Covishield Controversy
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary vector used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine?

  • Live attenuated virus
  • Modified chimpanzee adenovirus ChAdOx1 (correct)
  • Recombinant protein subunit
  • Synthetic DNA plasmid

    • Which notable company partnered with Oxford University for the production of the vaccine?

  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Moderna
  • AstraZeneca (correct)
  • Pfizer

    • What was the first country to grant emergency approval for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine?

  • India
  • Germany
  • United States
  • United Kingdom (correct)

    • Which condition involves inflammation of heart tissue and has been associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine?

    <p>Myocarditis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the chairman of AstraZeneca?

    <p>Michel Damare</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the leader sequence included in the vaccine's coding sequence?

    <p>Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) leader sequence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event occurred on January 4, 2021, regarding the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine?

    <p>First person vaccinated outside of clinical trials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not a side effect associated with AstraZeneca?

    <p>Sepsis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what year was AstraZeneca founded?

    <p>1999</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which country was the first to suspend the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine distribution?

    <p>Denmark</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) commonly linked to regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine?

    <p>Immune reaction triggered by adenovirus vectors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what rate does TTS occur among the vaccinated population?

    <p>One to two cases per 100,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which demographic is most commonly affected by TTS?

    <p>Healthy young women around thirty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about vaccine rollout in India is true?

    <p>India has administered approximately 1.75 billion doses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did several European countries pause the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine?

    <p>Reported cases of blood clotting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What classification did the WHO include TTS in 2023?

    <p>Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the Indian government's stance regarding Covishield and individuals with low platelet counts?

    <p>It cautioned against using Covishield for these individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many potential cases of blood clots related to Covishield were reported by the Indian government in May 2021?

    <p>26 cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes thrombocytopenia?

    <p>Low platelet count</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    AstraZeneca Covishield Controversy

    • Controversy: AstraZeneca's Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield in India) has faced controversy due to rare side effects, specifically Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).

    • TTS (Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia): A rare immune reaction triggered by adenovirus vectors leading to blood clots (thrombosis) and low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).

    • Prevalence: TTS is more common in healthy young women (~30 years old), occurring at a rate of approximately 1-2 cases per 100,000. At the population level, it's estimated at 2-3 cases per million vaccinated individuals.

    • India's Use: India administered nearly 1.75 billion doses of Covishield, vaccinating approximately 80% of its vaccinated population.

    • Temporary Suspensions: Several European countries, the UK, USA, and Australia temporarily paused Covishield use due to reported TTS cases, although benefits were deemed to outweigh risks.

    • WHO Classification: In 2023, the WHO classified Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) as a type of TTS.

    • India's Response - Concerns: Pre-vaccine rollout, India issued guidelines cautioning against Covishield use in individuals with low platelet counts. In May 2021, 26 potential blood clot cases were reported, (0.61 cases per million doses).

    • India's Response - Position: India's government maintained the vaccine's positive benefit-risk profile and that the risk is low. Comparatively, no such reports were seen for indigenous vaccine Covaxin. The risk of blood clots is also noted to be lower in South and Southeast Asians as compared to Europeans.

    Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine

    • Development: Developed by a collaboration between Oxford University and AstraZeneca using a modified chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1).

    • Vaccine Type: Viral vector vaccine containing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

    • Components: Contains full-length, codon-optimized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein coding sequence along with a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) leader sequence.

    • Collaboration Partners: Oxford University's Jenner Institute, Vaccitech, Oxford Sciences Innovation, Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and others.

    • First approvals and Use: The UK issued the first emergency use approval for the vaccine. The first vaccination outside clinical trials occurred on January 4, 2021.

    • Company: AstraZeneca, British-Swedish, headquartered in Cambridge.

    • Other Reported Side Effects:

      • Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) - Blood clots in the brain
      • Guillain-Barré syndrome - Immune system disorder affecting nerves
      • Myocarditis and pericarditis - Inflammation of heart tissue

    AstraZeneca: The Company

    • History: Founded in 1999 through the merger of Astra AB (Sweden) and Zeneca Group (UK). Zeneca was itself formed from the pharmaceutical operations of Imperial Chemical Industries.

    • Leadership: Michel Dame is Chairman and Pascal Soriot is CEO.

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    Description

    Explore the complexities surrounding the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine, particularly regarding the rare side effects of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). Learn about the prevalence of TTS among vaccinated individuals and the impact of these concerns on vaccine administration in India. This quiz delves into the temporary suspensions across different countries and the ongoing public health discourse.

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