A year-long follow-up study conducted by researchers at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) found that nearly one-third of 926 individuals who received Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin reported adverse events of special interest (AESI), including serious conditions like stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The study, which assessed the long-term safety of the BBV152 (Covaxin) vaccine in adolescents and adults, revealed that serious AESI, such as stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome, were reported in one percent of individuals. Researchers at BHU conducted the study from January 2022 to August 2023. During the follow-up period, nearly half of the sample size reported infections, with viral upper respiratory tract infections being the most common.
Response from Bharat Biotech: Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin, reiterated the vaccine’s safety track record, citing numerous studies that have demonstrated its excellent safety profile.