AstraZeneca acknowledged; Vaccines are withdrawn

The vaccine can no longer be used in the European Union, after this British-Swedish pharmaceutical company voluntarily withdrew its marketing authorization.

The request to withdraw the vaccine was submitted on March 5th and became effective today.

Similar applications will be made in the coming months in the UK and other countries that have approved the vaccine, known as Vaxevria.

AstraZeneca said that the vaccine was removed from the market for commercial reasons, and that it is no longer manufactured or supplied, as it has been replaced by updated vaccines that are effective against new strains of Covid-19, reports the British Telegraph.

Vaxevria has come under intense scrutiny in recent months because of a very rare side effect, which causes blood clots and low blood platelet counts. AstraZeneca admitted in court documents filed at the High Court in London in February that the vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS".

TTS, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, has been linked to at least 81 deaths in the UK, as well as hundreds of serious side effects. Astra Zeneca is being sued by more than 50 alleged victims and bereaved relatives in a case that is before the High Court.

The company claims that the decision to withdraw the vaccine is not related to a lawsuit or an admission that it can cause TTS, but that the timing is purely coincidental.

"We have developed vaccines for new strains of Covid-19 and we have a surplus. This led to a drop in demand for Vaxevria, which is no longer manufactured or supplied. AstraZeneca has therefore decided to initiate the withdrawal of marketing authorizations for Vaxevria in Europe,'' the pharmaceutical company announced.

The statement also states that the company is "proud" of its contribution to ending the global Covid 19 pandemic and claims that in the first year, immunization with this vaccine saved over 6.5 million lives through three billion delivered doses worldwide.