The reliability of vaccines has been questioned across the world after side effects of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine (Covishield in India) emerged. The company says that the side effects caused by the vaccine are quite rare, 8-10 people out of 10 lakh may be at risk. Amidst the ongoing discussion regarding Covishield, in a recent study released by Banaras Hindu University (BHU), researchers have said that many types of side effects are being seen in people not only due to Covishield but also due to other vaccines. In the research, researchers have said that about 30 percent of the people taking Covaxin had to face many types of health problems.
Nearly one-third of people who received Bharat Biotech's vaccine Covaxin reported multiple side effects a year later, according to a one-year follow-up study by a team of researchers at BHU.
In such a situation, the question arises whether Covid vaccines are safe. What kind of precautions should those who have taken the vaccine now take?
Side effects are also seen in people who have taken Covaxin
In a study conducted on 926 participants, about 50 percent also complained of infection during the research period. Upper respiratory tract infections were seen in many people. Not only this, but serious side-effects were also seen in about one percent of the people who took Covaxin, due to which people also complained of problems like stroke and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
What did the study find?
The study, conducted from January 2022 to August 2023, included 635 adolescents and 291 adults. Researchers said that three types of serious symptoms have been reported in people who have taken Covaxin. Skin-related problems were seen in 10.5 percent of people, general disorders in 10.2 percent, and nerve-related problems in 4.7 percent.
Not only this, menstrual abnormalities were also seen in 4.6 percent of female participants. Ocular abnormalities and hypothyroidism have been reported in 2.7 percent and 0.6 percent of participants, respectively.
Death of four people who were vaccinated
According to the study, four adults who took Covaxin also died (three female individuals, and one male individual). All four were diabetic and three also had the problem of high blood pressure.
Two of the four deaths were due to stroke while one death was reported due to post-COVID-19 rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Mucormycosis, considered a serious fungal infection, reportedly spread after vaccination.
What do experts say?
Researchers said that a detailed study is needed to understand the serious problems caused by Covaxin.
The study said that adults with comorbidities were more than twice as likely to experience side effects after vaccination. Not only this, the risk was seen to be four times higher in adults who received three doses of Covaxin compared to adults who took two doses.
(PC: ISTOCK)
