AstraZeneca Announces Withdrawal Of COVID-19 Vaccine, Says Unrelated To Admission Of Side-Effects

British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca has said?that it?is withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine, which was co-developed with Oxford University. 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.

AFP

Decline in demand

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.

Also read: Vaccine Boosts Antibodies After Third Shot, Says AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca admits vaccine side-effects

The development comes days after it?was revealed?that AstraZeneca, for the first?time?admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes rare side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts.

In February, AstraZeneca admitted in a UK court that the vaccine?“can, in?very rare?cases, cause TTS – which stands for Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

AFP

Withdrawal unrelated to side-effects?

AstraZeneca, however, claimed that the application to withdraw the vaccine, which was made on March 5 and came into effect on May?7?had nothing to do with the admission of side?effects,?it may cause.

“Our efforts have been?recognised?by governments around the world and are widely regarded as being a critical component of ending the global pandemic.?As?multiple,?variant Covid-19 vaccines have since?been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines.?This?has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied,"?AstraZeneca said in a statement?published?by The Telegraph.

Also read:?Covishield Or Covaxin? Study Reveals Which Vaccine Offers Better Protection

SC to hear plea on?Covishield side-effects

In a related development in India, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea demanding an expert panel probe both the side-effect and other potential risks of the AstraZeneca that was manufactured and sold in India by Serum Institute of India as Covishield.

BCCL

The application, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, also sought a direction to the Centre to compensate those who are severely disabled or have died because of any side effects of the vaccine administered to them during Covid.

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