New Delhi: Parents of two young women who allegedly died due to adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine have filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court, presenting new studies that claim to reveal the “poor safety” of the vaccines and an increase in excess mortality following vaccination.
The affidavit includes testimonies from 40 individuals who reportedly suffered severe vaccine-related adverse effects, some of whom are still alive but experiencing significant health issues. It also discusses myocarditis as a potential mechanism behind sudden deaths post-vaccination.
The petitioners, Rachana Gangu from Hyderabad and Venugopalan Govindan from Tamil Nadu, allege that their daughters, aged 19 and 20, died due to the Covishield vaccine’s adverse effects. They argue that mortality rates were negligible before the vaccine rollout but spiked afterward.
“We have cited studies highlighting vaccine-related adverse events. For instance, a study published in March 2021 showed 2.9% of vaccine recipients experienced serious adverse events, 22% needed medical assistance, and 11% had adverse events of special interest. By August 2024, long-term studies reported these figures had risen to 4.8%, 32%, and 31%, respectively,” said petitioner Venugopalan Govindan.
The Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case today, will consider the petitioners’ claims against the government’s defense of its vaccination program.
In its earlier hearing in October, the government had called for the dismissal of the case, arguing that the vaccination drive was voluntary and that over 2.2 billion doses were administered nationwide. The government maintained that it had neither forced individuals to vaccinate nor misled the public.
The petitioners countered, alleging coercion through direct and indirect actions and accusing the government of failing to warn citizens about potential adverse effects. They also criticized the lack of information provided about serious risks, such as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), at the time of vaccination.
The parents are seeking compensation, the establishment of vaccine courts for expedited justice, and the appointment of an independent medical board to investigate vaccine-related deaths and develop protocols for early detection and treatment of adverse events.
The petitioners assert that the government ignored early warning signals of potential vaccine risks, failing to prioritize public safety. The case remains under review by the Supreme Court, with arguments set to continue.
