The Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is being withdrawn globally due to a rare but dangerous side effect, according to a recent announcement by the firm. AstraZeneca claims that the decision to pull the vaccine was purely driven by commercial reasons.
The company has decided to remove its “marketing authorisation” for the COVID-19 vaccine, known as Vaxzevria, in the European Union and plans to do the same in the UK and other countries where it was used. This decision will not affect the United States as the vaccine did not receive approval to be marketed there.
AstraZeneca stated that the vaccine is no longer in production and newer vaccines have been developed to combat emerging variants of the virus. This move comes after the firm admitted in court documents that the vaccine could lead to a serious side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), which can result in blood clots and low blood platelet levels. The vaccine has been associated with at least 81 deaths in the UK and numerous injuries.
Several European countries suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in early 2021 due to reports of blood clot-related deaths. Despite finding a possible link between the vaccine and unusual blood clots with low platelets, the European Medicines Agency determined that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks.
The British government also phased out the AstraZeneca vaccine in favor of Pfizer and Moderna shots for the winter booster campaign. While the AstraZeneca vaccine was distributed to developing nations through a United Nations program due to its affordability, many countries opted for mRNA alternatives.
A law firm representing alleged victims in the UK welcomed the decision to withdraw the vaccine, linking it to AstraZeneca’s acknowledgment of the TTS side effect. The firm emphasized the need for fair compensation for affected individuals and called for reforms in the vaccine damage payment scheme.
AstraZeneca maintains that the decision to withdraw the vaccine’s authorisation was unrelated to ongoing legal cases and attributed it to a surplus of updated vaccines and declining demand for Vaxzevria. The company expressed pride in the role the vaccine played in combatting the pandemic and stated its commitment to working with regulators and partners to continue its contributions.
