AstraZeneca has commenced a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, following recent reports indicating rare side effects associated with the jab. The vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University and produced by the Serum Institute of India under the name Covishield, is being withdrawn for commercial reasons, as stated by the British pharmaceutical company.
The decision to withdraw the vaccine globally was reportedly prompted by a surplus of updated vaccines designed to address new variants of the virus, according to The Telegraph.
AstraZeneca voluntarily revoked its “marketing authorization” in the European Union, signaling the cessation of production and usage of the vaccine. Similar withdrawals are expected in other countries where the vaccine has been administered.
The pharmaceutical giant is currently embroiled in a 100 million pound lawsuit in the UK, with allegations linking the COVID jab to deaths and injuries. AstraZeneca acknowledged in court documents that Covishield can cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a rare condition associated with blood clots and low blood platelet counts, potentially leading to fatalities.
Despite the legal challenges, AstraZeneca asserted that the decision to withdraw Covishield is unrelated to the ongoing court case. The company emphasized the significant role its vaccine played in combating the pandemic, with over 6.5 million lives saved in the first year of use and the supply of three billion doses globally.
Moving forward, experts anticipate the withdrawal of all “monovalent” vaccines targeting the original COVID strain, to be replaced by updated vaccines capable of addressing a broader spectrum of virus variants.
