British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has made the decision to withdraw its COVID vaccine worldwide, following months of controversy surrounding a rare and dangerous side effect associated with the vaccine. The company’s admission in court documents that the vaccine can cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) has led to a 100 million pound lawsuit in the UK.
The application to withdraw the vaccine was submitted on March 5 and went into effect on Tuesday, as reported by The Telegraph. The vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, was produced by the Serum Institute of India under the name Covishield.
AstraZeneca cited commercial reasons for the withdrawal, stating that the vaccine was no longer being produced and could not be used due to an abundance of updated vaccines available. The company voluntarily withdrew its “marketing authorisation” in the European Union.
TTS is a rare but serious condition characterized by blood clot formation and low platelet levels in the blood. It has been linked to certain COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those using adenovirus vectors like AstraZeneca’s and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Symptoms of TTS include severe headache, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath, indicating potential blood clotting in various parts of the body.
Treatment for TTS typically involves hospitalization and specialized care, including anticoagulant therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin. Prompt recognition and management are crucial to prevent severe complications associated with the condition.