AstraZeneca has begun to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine globally on 8 May 2024.
“As multiple, variant COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines,” the company said.
The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker has previously admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes rare side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts. The firm’s application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7, according to the Telegraph, which first reported the development.
The Serum Institute of India (SII), which produced AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine under the brand name Covishield, stopped manufacturing and supply of the doses since December 2021, an SII spokesperson said.
A majority of Indian residents were vaccinated with Covishield during the Pandemic and concerns are growing within the country regarding the side-effects of the vaccines.
