AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine is being withdrawn globally, months after the pharmaceutical giant first admitted in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, the Telegraph has reported.
The vaccine can no longer be used in the European Union, after the company voluntarily withdrew its "marketing license", the British newspaper writes. The request to withdraw the vaccine was submitted on March 5 and took effect on Tuesday.
Similar applications will be made in the coming months in the UK and other countries that have approved the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria.
The decision to withdraw it puts an end to the use of the vaccine.
Why AstraZeneca is withdrawing the coronavirus vaccine
AstraZeneca said the vaccine was being withdrawn from the market for commercial reasons. He said the vaccine is no longer manufactured or supplied, having been replaced by updated vaccines that address new variants.
Vaxzevria has come under intense scrutiny in recent months because of a very rare side effect, which causes blood clots and a low blood platelet count. AstraZeneca admitted in court papers filed at the High Court in February that the vaccine "may, in very rare cases, cause TTS".
However, Astrazeneca has insisted that the decision to withdraw the vaccine is not linked to the court case or its admission that it can cause TTS. He said the timing was pure coincidence.
In a statement the company said: “We are incredibly proud of the role Vaxzevria has played in ending the global pandemic. According to independent estimates, over 6,5 million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and over three billion doses were administered worldwide.”
"Our efforts have been recognized by governments around the world and are widely seen as critical to ending the global pandemic."
“Since then multiple, variant vaccines have been developed Covid-19, there is a surplus of updated vaccines available. This has led to a decrease in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer manufactured and supplied. Therefore, AstraZeneca has taken the decision to initiate the withdrawal of marketing authorizations for Vaxzevria within Europe."
"We will now work with our regulators and partners to align on a clear path forward to complete this chapter and our significant contribution to the pandemic Covid-19».
Source: iefimerida.gr
