AstraZeneca, a prominent pharmaceutical company, has made headlines by withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine globally. This unexpected decision has raised concerns and questions worldwide. Let’s delve into the reasons behind this significant development.
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” since the pandemic.
The decision comes amidst ongoing legal battles faced by AstraZeneca over allegations that its vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, led to fatalities and severe injuries, including Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
The company also said it would proceed to withdraw the vaccine Vaxzevria’s marketing authorisations within Europe.
“As multiple, variant COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” the company said, adding that this had led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied.
According to media reports, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker has previously admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts.
Global Impact
The decision to withdraw the AstraZeneca vaccine globally has sent shockwaves across nations heavily reliant on this vaccine for their immunization programs. The sudden halt has disrupted vaccination schedules and raised uncertainties about the availability of alternative vaccines to fill this gap.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The regulatory bodies closely monitoring vaccine safety have intensified their investigations into the reported side effects associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The scrutiny aims to provide clarity on the risks involved and ensure the well-being of vaccine recipients.