AstraZeneca faces legal challenge over Covid vaccine
AstraZeneca is facing legal action over its Covid vaccine, by a man who suffered severe brain injury after having the jab in April 2021.
Father-of-two Jamie Scott suffered a blood clot that left him with brain damage and unable to keep working.
The action, taken under the Consumer Protection Act, alleges the vaccine was "defective" as it was less safe than individuals were entitled to expect.
Studies suggest Covid vaccines have saved millions of lives.
In June 2022, the World Health Organization said the AstraZeneca vaccine was "safe and effective for individuals aged 18 and above".
A further claim from about 80 people who say they were injured by the AstraZeneca vaccine is also due to be launched later this year but Mr Scott's case is expected to be heard first.
AstraZeneca said: "Patient safety is our highest priority and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.
"Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems.
"From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, Vaxzevria [the vaccine against Covid] has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects."
Source: BBC News, 9 November 2023
Related reading on the hub: