AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” since the pandemic.
The company also said it would proceed to withdraw the vaccine Vaxzevria’s marketing authorisations within Europe.
“As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” the company said, adding that this had led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which was no longer being manufactured or supplied.
According to media reports, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker had previously admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts.
The firm applied to withdraw the vaccine on March 5, effective May 7, as reported by the Telegraph.
AstraZeneca diversified into respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and obesity drugs last year. This move followed a slowdown in Covid-19 medicine sales.
In response, AstraZeneca is recalibrating its vaccine distribution strategy to align with shifting demand dynamics. The company aims to optimize vaccine distribution channels and prioritize regions where the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is still in demand.
Additionally, efforts are underway to address public concerns and rebuild confidence in the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Ultimately, AstraZeneca remains committed to supporting global vaccination efforts and combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
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