No blood clot risk from Covishield, Covaxin: India government panel

A top committee of the Indian government today said there is no enhanced risk of blood clotting after being vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin so far.

The National Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Committee has analysed over 400 major side effects during the ongoing vaccination drive and came to the conclusion that there is no unusual bleeding or clotting manifestations either with Covishield or Covaxin, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting adviser to the Committee N K Arora as saying.

Of 412 cases of severe and serious AEFI, including hospitalisation and deaths, reported as of March 13, there is "no abnormal increase" in issues of clotting and bleeding, he added.

He said AEFI's findings have been submitted to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC).

India's decision to review the adverse side effects of Covishield and Covaxin came in the backdrop of concerns raised in several European countries.

Covishield and Covaxin were approved by India's drug regulator Drugs Controller General of India earlier this year.

Five crore doses of vaccines have been administered across India since the first phase which began on January 16 with health workers and frontline workers.

India began public rollout of coronavirus vaccines on March 1 for people above 60 years of age and those above 45 with serious illnesses.