The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is being withdrawn worldwide, following the pharmaceutical giant’s acknowledgment of a rare and dangerous side effect. The company has decided to halt the use of the vaccine in the European Union after voluntarily withdrawing its marketing authorization. This move, effective from March 5, will soon extend to other countries, including the UK, that had previously approved the vaccine known as Vaxzevria.

AstraZeneca’s decision to withdraw the vaccine is attributed to commercial reasons, stating that the jab has been surpassed by newer alternatives designed to combat evolving variants. The vaccine, once hailed as a significant achievement for British science by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been credited with saving over six million lives.

The Vaxzevria vaccine has faced scrutiny due to a rare side effect causing blood clots and low blood platelet counts. AstraZeneca admitted in court documents in February that the vaccine can lead to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), which has been associated with 81 deaths and numerous severe injuries in the UK. The company is currently facing legal action from more than 50 individuals and families affected by this side effect.

Despite the ongoing court case and acknowledgment of TTS, AstraZeneca maintains that the decision to withdraw the vaccine is unrelated and purely coincidental in timing. The company emphasized its pride in the role Vaxzevria played in combating the global pandemic, with estimates suggesting it saved over 6.5 million lives within the first year of its use and supplied over three billion doses worldwide.

With the availability of multiple updated Covid-19 vaccines targeting various variants, the demand for Vaxzevria has decreased significantly, leading to its discontinuation. AstraZeneca clarified that the decision to cease manufacturing and supply of the vaccine is a result of this surplus of newer alternatives in the market.