 |
|
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has announced the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, due to commercial reasons.
The decision comes as the company faces a £100 million lawsuit in the UK over claims that the vaccine caused deaths and injuries.
AstraZeneca maintains that the withdrawal is not linked to the lawsuit and cites the surplus availability of updated vaccines as the primary reason for its decision.
The vaccine was originally approved for use in the European Union, but the company voluntarily withdrew its marketing authorization on May 7.
Similar applications for withdrawal will be made in the UK and other countries where the vaccine had previously been approved.
AstraZeneca emphasizes that its vaccine played a critical role in saving lives during the early stages of the pandemic and that its contribution to the fight against COVID-19 is widely recognized.
The company acknowledges that over 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of the vaccine's use and that over three billion doses were supplied globally.
Despite its initial success, the vaccine has been linked to a rare blood clotting disorder known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), which has led to over 81 deaths in the UK.
AstraZeneca's decision to withdraw the vaccine is a significant development in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, as it highlights the challenges associated with vaccine development and distribution during a global pandemic.
The company's focus will now shift to working with regulators and partners to ensure a smooth transition away from Vaxzevria and to contribute to the continued development of effective vaccines against COVID-19 and its variants.
Source: AstraZeneca Pulls COVID Vaccine from EU, Begins Global Withdrawal