AstraZeneca has globally withdrawn its Vaxzevria COVID-19 vaccine due to severe side effects and declining demand.
AstraZeneca has announced the withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, from global markets due to a dangerous side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). The pharmaceutical company confirmed its voluntary withdrawal from the European Union, where its marketing authorization has ceased as of Tuesday. Similar actions are expected in the UK and other countries where it is approved.
AstraZeneca claims the withdrawal is driven by commercial reasons, as the vaccine has been replaced by updated versions designed to combat new variants. The company has ceased manufacturing and supplying Vaxzevria, stating that demand has declined due to a surplus of alternative vaccines.
Court documents filed in February by AstraZeneca acknowledged for the first time that Vaxzevria could cause TTS. This condition has been linked to at least 81 deaths in the UK and has prompted lawsuits from over 50 alleged victims and relatives. Despite the timing, AstraZeneca insists the withdrawal is unrelated to the pending legal cases or its admission about TTS.
Andy Schoonover
"We are incredibly proud of Vaxzevria's role in ending the global pandemic," AstraZeneca stated.
In the UK, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had mainly been phased out by the autumn of 2021, with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines taking precedence for the winter booster campaign. The European Medicines Agency's head of vaccines, Marco Cavaleri, confirmed the EU withdrawal process and anticipated the eventual discontinuation of all 'monovalent' vaccines.
Kate Scott, whose husband experienced a severe adverse reaction, suggested that concerns over safety parameters likely influenced the decision. Legal representatives for those affected by TTS continue to seek compensation and call for reform of the current vaccine damage payment scheme.
As the withdrawal process unfolds, AstraZeneca will work with global regulators to conclude the chapter on Vaxzevria. The company never obtained approval for its COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.
