Oxford AstraZeneca Covid jab was ‘defective’, claims landmark legal case

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine has been branded "Defective" in a multi-million pound landmark legal action that will suggest claims over its efficacy were "Vastly overstated".

The test cases could pave the way for as many as 80 damages claims worth an estimated £80 million over a new condition known as Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis that was identified by specialists in the wake of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

AstraZeneca last night told the Telegraph that patient safety was its "Highest priority", that its vaccine, called Vaxzevria, had "Continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile", and that regulators around the world "Consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects".

Official figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request show that out of 148 payouts made by the Government under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, which provides compensation to those injured by vaccines or to bereaved next-of-kin, at least 144 went to recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Fewer than five people under the scheme received vaccines other than AstraZeneca.

The claim is being brought by Mr Scott under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and argues that the AstraZeneca vaccine was "Defective" in that it was not as safe as individuals were entitled to expect.

As many as 80 claimants could lodge legal cases with the High Court by the end of the year in a class action that threatens to undermine faith in the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine that was developed jointly with Oxford University.

In Mr Scott's claim, his lawyers argue that he suffered "Personal injuries and consequential losses arising out of his sustaining Vaccine Induced Immune Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia as a result of his vaccination on 23 April 2021, with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination", which the legal claim alleges was "Defective".

AstraZeneca issued press releases following clinical trials saying the vaccine – known as Vaxzevria – was between 62 per cent and 90 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 depending on dosages, with an average of 70 per cent.

The Court documents state: "The Claimant claims damages and interest as a result of personal injuries and consequential losses arising out of his sustaining Vaccine Induced Immune Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia as a result of his vaccination on 23 April 2021, with the AstraZeneca COVID19 vaccination manufactured and/or supplied by the Defendant which was defective within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.".

On the complex issue of the vaccine's efficacy, the court documents draw on a ruling by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, which said in July last year that AstraZeneca had breached its code in using the repeated use of the word "Safe" in a press release in December 2020.

Sir John Bell, who was chief adviser to the Government on life sciences and an adviser to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said: "It is an asteroid-like risk from the AstraZeneca vaccine. There is a risk of getting hit by an asteroid but it isn't very big.”