AstraZeneca has begun the global withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine, citing a surplus of available updated vaccines since the pandemic began. The company has also decided to withdraw the vaccine’s marketing authorizations within Europe.
“As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” AstraZeneca stated.
The move comes days after the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker admitted in court documents in the UK that the vaccine can cause side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts. “It can in very rare cases, cause TTS or Thtombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.”
The pharmaceutical giant is facing a 100 million pound lawsuit in the UK over claims that the Covid jab caused deaths and injuries to several people.
As stated by Economic Times, the company’s application to withdraw the vaccine was submitted on 5 March and became effective on 7 May. However, the vaccine maker has denied that the decision to withdraw Covishield is linked to the court case.
“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. Our efforts have been recognized by governments around the world and are widely regarded as being a critical component of ending the global pandemic. As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. 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,” AstraZeneca said in a statement.
Supreme Court to hear plea over Covishield side-effect concern
In India, the Supreme Court will hear a petition on a rare side-effect associated with the Covid-19 vaccine. A date for the hearing has not been set but Chief Justice DY Chandrachud acknowledged the issue, which includes demands for an expert panel to investigate the side-effects and for the government to provide compensation for families of those who may have died after taking the drug. An early hearing of the petition, though, has been ruled out.
Specifically, the petitioner has demanded the expert panel probe both the side-effects and other potential risks and that this investigation be monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge. The petition claims instances where those who took the vaccine also became disabled, and wants directions to the government to provide compensation for them too.
Although the news of a possible side-effect of the Covishield vaccine has led to concerns, the medical experts and a fact-check by The Healthy Indian Project indicate the claim is only half-true, while the risk of TTS is true, the probability is “very rare”.
