AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine globally, months after admitting side effect

A pharmaceutical giant has withdrawn its Covid vaccine worldwide only months after admitting the jab causes a rare blood clot.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has withdrawn its vaccine globally after admitting it caused a dangerous and rare side effect.

The vaccine can no longer be used in the European Union after the company voluntarily withdrew its “marketing authorisation”, according to the UK’s Telegraph.

In court documents, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical producer conceded that the vaccine, sold under the name Vaxzevria, can cause fatal blood clots and low platelet counts.

Their admission was made after a UK class action was launched against the company on behalf of almost 50 victims with side effects from the jab.

AstraZeneca said the decision behind the removal was for “commercial reasons”.

The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7.

AstraZeneca said the decision behind the removal was for “commercial reasons” and insisted the decision to withdraw the vaccine wasn’t in any way linked to the court case or its admission that it can cause blood clots.

“We are incredibly proud of the role Vaxzevria 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 supplied globally,” AstraZeneca told the Telegraph.

The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7.

“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 has therefore taken the decision to initiate withdrawal of the marketing authorisations for Vaxzevria within Europe.

“We will now work with regulators and our partners to align on a clear path forward to conclude this chapter and significant contribution to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Authority (TGA) discontinued use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in April 2023.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended that Australians over the age of 60 avoid taking Vaxzevria.

Aussies over aged 18 had the AstraZeneca first approved for use by the TGA from February 15, 2021 and as a booster from February 8, 2022.

However, in June 2021, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended that Australians over the age of 60 avoid taking Vaxzevria.

And while Australians haven’t been administered Vaxzevria since its discontinuation, it remained provisionally approved by the Department of Health.

Originally published as AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine globally, months after admitting side effect