AstraZeneca withdraws its Corona preventive vaccine globally

The Company claims that the vaccine side effects are unrelated to this decision

London (England) – AstraZeneca announced on Tuesday, that it has initiated worldwide recall of its COVID-19 vaccine, following the admission by the UK pharmaceutical company that the vaccine can lead to a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). Media reports state that the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker had previously acknowledged in legal documents that the vaccine can result in side effects like blood clots and reduced blood platelet counts. The company said the withdrawal was due to a ‘surplus of available updated vaccines’ since the pandemic. Calling the decision ‘purely coincidental’, the pharma giant in a Telegraph report said the withdrawal of vaccine is not linked to its admission that it can cause TTS – Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

1. AstraZeneca told the British High Court in February 2024 that its COVID-19 vaccine could have dangerous side effects. The company admitted that this increases the chances of heart disease.

2. This vaccine causes blood clots in the body and a low number of platelets (one of the contents of the blood). However, this happens only in very rare cases.

3. AstraZeneca has been accused of causing many deaths from the vaccine it produced. AstraZeneca faces lawsuits from over 50 alleged victims and bereaved relatives in a High Court case. The victims have demanded compensation of an estimated Rs 1,000 crore from AstraZeneca.

4. Scientists realised the danger of the vaccine months after it was brought to market. After this, it was suggested that some other doses of vaccines should also be given to people younger than 40 years of age.

5. In February 2024, the British Government paid compensation to 163 people in Britain. Out of these, 158 received the AstraZeneca vaccine.