Covid-19 Vaccine Transverse Myelitis Reaction Investigation Expanded
Reuters reports the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its investigation of a serious vaccine injury in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine study. The company’s late-stage US trial has been on hold since September 6th after a study participant in England was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare spinal inflammatory disorder. Participants in other studies have reported day-long side effects from the COVID-19 test vaccines.
AstraZeneca’s effort to come up with a coronavirus vaccine had been one of the most advanced before the FDA began a probe. President Trump pledged $1.2 billion to support the development of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, but the trial is now on hold.
The FDA will be looking into the data from earlier AstraZeneca trials of similar vaccines developed by the same scientists working on this one. The pharmaceutical company is one of 4 in the United States now in phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trials, the final stage in developing a safe and effective vaccine. The other trials underway are from Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson.
