Health Minister: Explain the side effects, AstraZeneca

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad demanded an explanation from British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca following its admission that its vaccine can cause a rare side effect.

They are a large pharmaceutical company and vaccine manufacturer. They must provide clarification not only to Malaysia but also to the rest of the world,” he said.

“I prefer for it (explanation) to be stated openly to everyone … the public and the media.

“They (AstraZeneca) must take responsibility, just as we must take responsibility. We don’t want to hide anything,” Kosmo reported him as saying after visiting a health-screening programme at the Tun Abdul Razak Orang Asli village in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

UK based media The Telegraph last week reported AstraZeneca admitting in court that its vaccine can lead to TTS (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) that causes people to have blood clots and a low blood platelet count.

AstraZeneca is facing a class action suit over claims that its vaccine caused death and serious injuries.

While contesting those claims it admitted that its Covid-19 vaccine cab in very rare cases, cause TTS”.

Lawyers dealing the case believe there would be a multi million pound compensation as 51 cases have been filed with claiming amounting to £100 million.

On that note, Dzulkefly adviced the public against drawing hasty conclusions since the vaccines have been beneficial in general.

“I urge you (the public) to think logically,” he said.

“The incidence rate is 0.9% per million. Weigh the pros and cons based on evidence, and put it (side effects) into perspective.”

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