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AstraZeneca plc, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, is reportedly withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine worldwide. The company made the decision months after admitting in court there is a rare side effect.
But then again, according to Channel News Asia, AstraZeneca did not say this was the reason for the pullout of the vaccines. Rather, the company said it was due to “commercial reasons.”
Taking Back the COVID-19 Vaccines Years After Release
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday, May 7, the withdrawal of its vaccines around the world is already underway. It stressed that this is due to a "surplus of available updated vaccines" since the pandemic.
Moreover, the pharmaceutical and biotech firm announced it would also retract the vaccine Vaxzevria's marketing authorizations in Europe. AstraZeneca added that it is no longer producing its COVID-19 vaccine, so supply to the market has also stopped.
“As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” the company’s spokesman said in a statement. “This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied.”
Reported Side Effects of Vaxzevria
AstraZeneca reportedly admitted in court documents that the vaccine has side effects like low platelet counts and blood clots. British newspapers stated that based on legal documents, the company's vaccine may cause TTS, but in very rare cases. World Health Organization (WHO), said this condition called Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome is a serious and life-threatening negative effect.
“It is admitted that the AZ vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause TTS,” AstraZeneca said in court documents in February. “The causal mechanism is not known.”
UK’s The Independent reported that AstraZeneca’s admission came after it was sued in the U.K. The class action lawsuits alleged that the company’s vaccine caused deaths and severe injuries, and claimants are seeking damages up to £100 million for around 50 supposed victims.
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