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The British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has chosen to halt its COVID-19 vaccine distribution worldwide due to a rare and dangerous side effect linked to the shot.
The Telegraph first reported the news, stating that the company had voluntarily removed its “marketing authorization,” making the vaccine unavailable for purchase.
The report added:
The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is being withdrawn worldwide, months after the pharmaceutical giant admitted for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect.
The vaccine can no longer be used in the European Union, after the company voluntarily withdrew its “marketing authorisation”. The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on Tuesday. Similar applications will be made in the coming months in the UK and in other countries that had approved the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria.
The decision to withdraw it brings to an end the use of the jab, which was heralded by Boris Johnson as a “triumph for British science” and credited with saving more than six million lives. AstraZeneca said the vaccine was being removed from markets for commercial reasons. It said the vaccine was no longer being manufactured or supplied, having been superseded by updated vaccines that tackle new variants.
AstraZeneca has faced significant criticism in recent months due to evidence that its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, has been linked to numerous cases of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), resulting in at least 81 deaths. Around 50 affected individuals and bereaved families are also taking legal action against the company.
In a statement released on Tuesday, AstraZeneca defended its track record and expressed pride in the impact Vaxzevria had in helping to end the global pandemic. The company highlighted that independent estimates credit the vaccine with saving over 6.5 million lives in its first year of use, with over three billion doses distributed globally. AstraZeneca also noted that its efforts have been acknowledged by governments worldwide and considered a key factor in mitigating the pandemic.
The decision may be seen as a win for anti-vaccine activists, who have long voiced concerns about potential risks associated with COVID vaccines. Additionally, it could harm the reputation of the scientific community, which has consistently stated that the vaccines are safe and effective, even though they did not entirely prevent COVID-19 transmission.
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