Malaysia to seek AstraZeneca explanation about COVID-19 vaccine side effect - MOH

MOSCOW: Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Thursday that his ministry would demand an explanation from UK-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca following recent reports of rare side effects of its COVID-19 vaccine.

A report in UK newspaper The Telegraph, published on Sunday, stated that in a document submitted to the High Court in London in February for a group action, AstraZeneca acknowledged for the first time that its COVID-19 vaccine can cause, in rare cases, a blood clotting condition known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, reported German news agency (dpa).

"We ask AstraZeneca representatives to give a more thorough explanation... and I would prefer to be more transparent to all the people and media," Dzulkefly was quoted as saying by Malaysian news agency Bernama.

To avoid public concern among vaccine recipients, the company must provide a detailed explanation not only to Malaysia but also to the rest of the world, the minister added.

"They (AstraZeneca) must be responsible... there is nothing for us to hide, and same with them," he said.

Dzulkefly added that his ministry would keep monitoring the matter.

-- BERNAMAy