JAKARTA: There have been no cases of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) associated with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia, according to the country’s commission that studies vaccine side effects.
The National Commission for the Study and Prevention of Malicious Events After Immunization, together with the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), has conducted active and passive surveillance to reach this conclusion.
Chair Professor Hinky Hindra Irawan Satari said: “Vaccines undergo rigorous assessment through various stages of clinical trials involving millions of participants before authorization. Monitoring continues even after distribution.”
The statement follows reports from British media that AstraZeneca has admitted its COVID-19 vaccine may cause a rare side effect called TTS.
Indonesia ranks fourth globally in its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with 453 million doses of vaccine administered, including 70 million doses of AstraZeneca.
Hinky said active surveillance for vaccine-related symptoms, including TTS was conducted in 14 hospitals in seven provinces for more than a year in line with World Health Organization guidelines.
“We observed from March 2021 to July 2022, extending the surveillance to ensure a sufficient sample size. Despite the extension, no cases of TTS related to the AstraZeneca vaccine were found.
After the conclusion of the active surveillance, he said the commission continued passive surveillance, without TTS cases being reported. TTS is a rare condition characterized by blood clotting and low platelet counts, which can cause severe symptoms.
“Adverse events after immunization usually occur within four to 42 days after vaccination. Although a case of TTS was found in Indonesia, it is unlikely to be related to the COVID-19 vaccine because of the timing,” he said.