Former union minister K V Thomas writes to PM Modi urging probe on impact of Covid-19 vaccine

New Delhi: Kerala government's Special Representative K V Thomas, who is also a former union minister, on Thursday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to order a study on the impact of Covid-19 and its vaccination on people, citing the death of his wife who had developed kidney problems after contracting the virus.

In his letter, Thomas said that the union government has reported that Covishield vaccines have caused Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) among other “serious” side effects in Covid-19 patients in the country.

Covishield manufacturer AstraZeneca had admitted in United Kingdom court documents that its vaccine has the potential to cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a rare side effect associated with blood clotting.

Thomas said his wife Sherly was administered the vaccine in 2020 and she survived the virus.

"...But it impacted her kidney, we were able to sustain her health through medication and treatments but she succumbed to kidney failure in August 2024. Sherly was a sturdy person who followed a healthy lifestyle and did not have any major illness," he wrote.

Thomas said he has heard similar cases being reported across the country.

Requesting Modi to order a study on the "health problems" due to Covid-19 and vaccination, he also said steps should be taken by the government on the National AEFI (Adverse Effects Following Immunisation) guidelines.