Lawsuit for Compensation Due to AstraZeneca Vaccine Side Effects Postponed to April 10 for Review of Company Documents
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the Fourth Compensation Circuit of the South Giza Primary Court decided to postpone the lawsuit filed by the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (case no. 7208/2024) against the legal representative of AstraZeneca, the Prime Minister in his official capacity, the Minister of Health, and the Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority in their official capacities. The lawsuit seeks financial compensation of 3 million Egyptian pounds on behalf of an Egyptian citizen who allegedly suffered fatal side effects from AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. The court adjourned the case to April 10 to allow for the correction of AstraZeneca’s name in the lawsuit and to provide time for responses to the documents and legal memoranda submitted by the company. During the hearing, AstraZeneca’s legal representative submitted two folders of documents along with a defense memorandum.
The company’s legal counsel argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed on procedural grounds, contending that it had been filed against the wrong entity. The defense asserted that AstraZeneca’s Egyptian branch has no legal connection to AstraZeneca’s global operations and merely acts as a packaging and distribution entity for imported pharmaceuticals.
The plaintiff, a 44-year-old security supervisor, was in good health before receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca’s vaccine in December 2021, in compliance with government-mandated vaccination requirements for certain categories of citizens. However, within a month of receiving the initial dose, he suffered a coronary artery thrombosis, necessitating catheterization and the placement of a cardiac stent. Following the administration of the second dose in February 2022, he experienced worsening health conditions, including recurrent angina, which required further cardiac interventions.
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights based its claim on AstraZeneca’s own acknowledgment that its vaccine could, in rare cases, cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a severe condition that leads to blood clots and may result in death or permanent health damage. Furthermore, legal documents filed by AstraZeneca in a British court in February 2024 indicate that the company had prior knowledge of these potential side effects, raising questions regarding its legal and ethical liability.
The center contends that the plaintiff was not adequately informed of the vaccine’s risks at the time of administration and that his decision to receive it was influenced by government-mandated requirements. Accordingly, the lawsuit argues that the relevant authorities bear joint liability for the health damages he sustained.
The claim also references global reports on similar compensation cases filed by affected individuals in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Morocco, where thousands have pursued legal action to seek redress for injuries allegedly caused by AstraZeneca’s vaccine. The lawsuit invokes Article 163 of the Egyptian Civil Code, which holds any party liable for damages resulting from wrongful acts, and demands that the court grant just compensation to the plaintiff for the physical, psychological, and financial harm he has endured.
Recently, AstraZeneca announced the global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine following media reports revealing that the company had acknowledged in legal filings that the vaccine could cause serious adverse effects, including blood clot formation and platelet reduction, within two months of administration.
This announcement follows a class-action lawsuit filed in the United Kingdom by dozens of families seeking millions in damages. The plaintiffs allege that their relatives suffered severe complications or lost their lives due to what they describe as “defects” in the vaccine. This development marks a rare admission by AstraZeneca regarding the potential risks associated with its product.
