What Is TTS, the Rare Side-effect Caused by Astrazeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine?

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, in a damning revelation, has admitted that its Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ can, in “very rare cases, cause TTS”.

TTS is a rare but serious condition associated with certain COVID-19 vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. It is also referred to as Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT).

TTS is characterised by blood clots (thrombosis) combined with low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), which are necessary for blood clotting. It often involves unusual blood clot locations, such as in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) or abdomen.

Usually, symptoms of TTS present within 4 to 42 days post–vaccine.

As per Hematology.org, dangerous symptoms that warrant immediate medical consultation include: severe headache, visual changes, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, back pain, shortness of breath, leg pain or swelling, petechiae, easy bruising, or bleeding.