AstraZeneca Withdraws COVID Vaccine Globally Due to Rare Side Effects Weeks After Acknowledging Them

British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has made the decision to withdraw its COVID vaccine globally, following months of controversy surrounding a rare and dangerous side effect associated with the vaccine. The Telegraph reported that the application to withdraw the vaccine was submitted on March 5 and went into effect on Tuesday.

The vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, was manufactured 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 was no longer available for use. The company mentioned that there was an excess supply of updated vaccines, prompting the withdrawal of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

This decision comes after AstraZeneca admitted in court documents that its vaccine can cause a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). The company is currently facing a 100 million pound lawsuit in the UK due to this admission. TTS is a serious condition characterized by the formation of blood clots combined with low levels of platelets in the blood, and has been linked to certain COVID-19 vaccines, including AstraZeneca’s.

Symptoms of TTS can include severe headache, abdominal pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath, and neurological issues. Prompt recognition and treatment are crucial to prevent severe complications associated with TTS. AstraZeneca’s withdrawal of the vaccine highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding COVID-19 vaccination efforts worldwide.