In today’s world, where people are still recovering from the effects of COVID-19, Covishield — one of India’s most used vaccines — is in the news again. But this time, it’s not for its success, but because the makers have admitted it might cause a rare kind of blood clot. At the same time, people are also raising questions about political donations made through election bonds during the pandemic, especially those linked to the Modi government.
This article explains both these big issues in a simple way — the health concerns around Covishield and the political debate about election donations.
What Is Covishield and Why Is It in the News?
Covishield is the Indian version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, made by the Serum Institute of India. It was used widely during the COVID-19 pandemic to vaccinate millions.
Now, the company has admitted in a UK court that Covishield may cause a rare and serious side effect called TTS (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome). This condition causes blood clots and low platelet levels.
What Has the Company Said About the Blood Clot Risk?
In a legal case in the UK, AstraZeneca (the original maker) admitted that the vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS. This has led to a few deaths and serious health problems.
Even though the chance of this side effect is very low (around 1 in 100,000 doses), people are now questioning whether the public was told the full truth during the vaccine rollout.
How Has the Indian Government Reacted?
So far, the Indian government hasn’t made any official statement about this admission. Covishield is still approved for use in India, and there’s no change in vaccine policy.
This silence has made health experts and opposition leaders ask for more clarity, especially since over 90% of vaccinated Indians got Covishield.
Why Is Public Trust Important?
For any health plan to work, people must trust it. While rare side effects are common with medicines and vaccines, people need to be informed honestly.
The main issue is not just the side effect — it’s whether people were told about it clearly at the time of vaccination.
Was Important Information Hidden?
Many believe that during the pandemic, the government may have hidden some information to avoid panic and protect its image.
Now that the vaccine maker has admitted the risk, it looks like these side effects were known earlier — but are only being shared now because of the court case.
Political Controversy: Election Bond Donations
At the same time, there’s another issue creating headlines — election bond donations. Reports suggest that some companies, including vaccine makers, gave large amounts of money to political parties using electoral bonds during the pandemic.
People are asking: Did these companies get special benefits in return for their donations?
What Are Electoral Bonds and Why Are They a Problem?
Electoral bonds are a way for people or companies to donate money to political parties without revealing their names publicly.
Though the system was meant to reduce black money, it actually made political funding more secretive.
Recent data shows that the ruling BJP received most of the money — including from companies that got big COVID-related contracts.
Was the Modi Government Involved?
There is no direct proof against Prime Minister Modi or his team, but the timing and size of the donations have raised questions.
Some companies that won government contracts were also the biggest donors, which looks like a conflict of interest. Critics are asking for a full investigation.
What Does This Mean for Indian Democracy?
These two issues — health safety and political funding — are very serious.
If people were not fully informed about the vaccine risks, and if companies gave money to political parties in return for contracts, it’s not just a health problem — it’s a problem with how the system works.
With elections coming up, people should demand clear answers from their leaders.
What Happens Next?
The UK court case might lead to compensation for people affected by the vaccine. If similar cases are filed in India, there could be lawsuits and more legal actions.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has asked for more transparency in electoral bonds, which could help reveal who gave money to whom — and why.
Conclusion: Time for Honesty in Health and Politics
Covishield’s admission about blood clot risks and the questions over political donations have created a serious situation in India.
Vaccines saved lives, but people deserve to know the whole truth. And democracy can only work well if political donations are clean and open.
As elections get closer, citizens should demand truth, honesty, and accountability from both health agencies and political leaders.
The real question is not just “What happened?” — it’s “What will be done now?”