The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has announced its decision to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine globally, according to a report by UK-based media outlet The Telegraph published on Tuesday (local time).
The report states that the vaccine will no longer be available for use in the European Union, as the company has voluntarily withdrawn its “marketing authorization.”
AstraZeneca submitted an application to withdraw the vaccine on March 5, and this application came into effect on May 7. The company plans to submit similar applications in the UK and other countries that had previously approved the vaccine in the coming months. The COVID vaccine developed by AstraZeneca was known as Vaxzevria.
The decision to initiate a worldwide withdrawal of the vaccine was attributed to commercial reasons, as AstraZeneca cited a “surplus of available updated vaccines” for COVID-19. The company stated that the vaccine had been superseded by newer versions designed to address emerging variants of the virus. However, AstraZeneca clarified that the withdrawal decision was unrelated to an ongoing lawsuit in the UK, where it faces a £100 million lawsuit over allegations that the COVID jab resulted in deaths and injuries to several individuals.
In court documents filed in February, AstraZeneca admitted that its vaccine, Covishield, could, in very rare cases, lead to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a condition characterized by blood clots and a low blood platelet count, which has been linked to over 81 deaths in the UK. Despite this, the company emphasized that the withdrawal of Covishield was not connected to the legal proceedings.
AstraZeneca defended its vaccine, highlighting its significant impact in saving lives and supplying over three billion doses globally in the first year of its use. The company stated its commitment to work with regulators and partners to determine the next steps and conclude its contribution to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
