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My Take | Now is the time to talk about vaccines, but Covid-19 leaves polarising legacy
- Anti-vaxxers and jab proponents push warring narratives, making rational discussions about medical benefits and risks difficult
- However, the best time for candour and intensive research is now – before another pandemic hits
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While Covid-19 no longer dominates the news, lawsuits related to coronavirus vaccine injuries have made headlines in recent months.
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The most recent is a lawsuit filed by a vaccine trial patient against drug maker AstraZeneca claiming she was disabled by the vaccine during a trial, and that the company has failed to fulfil its contractual obligations to pay her medical bills, The Telegraph reported on Monday.
Two weeks ago, a British man who suffered from a brain injury days after vaccination sued AstraZeneca, alleging the company downplayed the risks and exaggerated its effectiveness, Sky News reported.
Other drug makers such as BioNTech and Serum Institute have also faced lawsuits in Germany and India respectively.
In the US, drug makers were given immunity from lawsuits under agreements with the government, which in turn set up a compensation scheme to pay people found to have been injured by a covered vaccine. Australia has a similar programme.
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In Britain and the European Union, drug makers have been given partial immunity.
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