AstraZeneca has initiated a worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine, citing an oversupply of newer vaccine alternatives specifically tailored to combat emerging virus variants.
This decision comes following the pharmaceutical company’s voluntary withdrawal of its European Union marketing authorization in March, a step that paved the way for the recent global discontinuation.
On May 7, the European Medicines Agency officially revoked the vaccine’s authorization for use across member states.
AstraZeneca explained that the availability of a diverse range of updated vaccines, designed to target Covid-19 variants, has led to a decreased demand for its vaccine, prompting the halt in manufacturing and distribution.
The company highlighted its substantial contribution to the pandemic response, estimating that over 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of vaccine deployment, with more than 3 billion doses distributed globally.
While acknowledging the pivotal role played by the AstraZeneca vaccine in the early stages of the pandemic, the chair of epidemiology at Deakin University in Australia, Prof Catherine Bennett, emphasized the evolving nature of the global vaccine landscape. She noted the importance of adapting to emerging variants and shifting toward formulations targeting the JN.1 lineage of the virus, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
Although the AstraZeneca vaccine was deemed safe and effective overall, it carried a rare risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS), occurring in about two to three individuals per 100,000 vaccinated.
The withdrawal of the AstraZeneca vaccine marks a significant milestone in the ongoing global effort to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting a transition towards newer vaccine formulations better equipped to address evolving virus variants.
