Malaysia’s health department knew about the side effects of Astra Zeneca’s covid vaccine, former general director Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah has revealed. The decision not to inform the public was based on the fact that it was considered “important to weigh the small risks against the significant benefits”.
Since the distribution of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine, several people have decided to sue the company for vaccine injuries. This includes a class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom, where more than 40 people have filed a lawsuit. Since its introduction, the pharmaceutical company has denied that its COVID-19 vaccine has any serious side effects, but admitted during court proceedings that it can cause thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which includes blood clots and low platelet levels. Soon after, the company decided to withdraw its Covid vaccine due to “reduced demand”.
The former director-general of Malaysia’s Department of Health, Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, was a panelist at the Mercy Malaysia International Humanitarian Conference. There he was asked about COVID-19 vaccines, specifically AstraZeneca’s.
– Before we started using the AstraZeneca vaccine, we reviewed the papers on its side effects. At that time, there was fear regarding the potential for serious side effects caused by the vaccine, he admits, according to the New Straits Times.
Although he describes the fear as “minimal,” he says there were concerns about these side effects, including cases of heart attacks.
– During clinical trials, although there was concern, we were facing 300 to 500 deaths daily from Covid-19, he says.
Not wanting to create “fear”
He also admits that even when they became aware of the side effects, they chose not to tell the public because it was “important to weigh the small risks against the significant benefits”.
– We knew (about the side effects), but the public did not, because of the fear, says the former general director.
In his defense, he also claims that “side effects were closely monitored and reported”, with most reported to be mild. A number of side effects were also noted that stood out and required the agency’s “attention,” but he would not go so far as to confirm that they were directly caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.
– It is important to have solid evidence before attributing complications to the vaccine.
