May 16th 2024.
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for the world, and the search for a reliable vaccine has been a top priority. In this regard, AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, has collaborated with Oxford University to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. However, there have been recent concerns about the vaccine causing a rare but dangerous blood clotting disorder known as vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT).
Although not a completely new condition, VITT has gained attention as a result of the adenovirus vector-based Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is known as Covishield in India and Vaxzevria in Europe. The vaccine was developed and distributed during the peak of the pandemic in 2021. Researchers have now discovered that VITT is caused by an autoantibody that targets a specific protein called platelet factor 4.
Further studies conducted in 2023 by scientists from Canada, North America, Germany, and Italy have revealed a similar disorder with the same PF4 antibody, which can be fatal in some cases. This disorder has been linked to natural adenovirus infections. Recently, Flinders University in Australia, along with other international experts, conducted a new study and found that the PF4 antibodies in both adenovirus infection-associated VITT and classic adenoviral vector VITT have identical molecular signatures.
According to Professor Tom Gordon from Flinders University, this discovery is significant as it suggests that the pathways of lethal antibody production in these disorders are similar and may have the same genetic risk factors. He also mentioned that the lessons learned from VITT can be applied to rare cases of blood clotting after adenovirus infections and can also have implications for future vaccine development.
In a previous study conducted in 2022, the same research team had identified a genetic risk factor and decoded the molecular structure of the PF4 antibody. Their latest findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could potentially improve vaccine safety. In February, AstraZeneca admitted in a legal document submitted to the High Court that their Covid vaccine could cause a rare side effect called Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Syndrome (TTS). This condition has been linked to the deaths of 81 people in the UK and hundreds of serious injuries.
As a result of these concerns, the company has voluntarily withdrawn the marketing authorization of their Covid vaccine from Europe and other global markets. This decision reflects their commitment to ensuring the safety of their vaccine and the public. Overall, the recent research on VITT and the PF4 antibody has important implications for vaccine development and safety.
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