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Anglo-Swedish biopharmaceutical multinational AstraZeneca has begun a global recall of its Covid-19 vaccine due to “a surplus of available updated vaccines” that target new variants of the virus. This was reported by some international media including the Guardian. The announcement follows the pharmaceutical company’s recent decision in March 2024 to voluntarily withdraw the marketing authorization in the European Union, i.e. the approval to market a medicine in member states. The European Medicines Agency issued a warning on May 7 that the vaccine is no longer authorized for use.
Space for new updated vaccines
AstraZeneca – the British newspaper continues – said that the decision was made because a variety of newer vaccines are now available that have been adapted to target Covid-19 variants. This had led to a drop in demand for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is no longer produced or supplied. The company then highlights how “our efforts have been recognized by governments around the world and are widely considered to be a critical component to ending the global pandemic.”
Finally, the Guardian recalls how, although the vaccine was overall safe and effective, it carried the risk of a rare but serious side effect, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia or TTS. The rare syndrome occurred in about two to three people out of 100,000 vaccinated with the Vaxzevria vaccine.
Families give up dues in the UK
The Anglo-Swedish company had admitted for the first time in court documents during legal proceedings in London at the end of April 2024 that its Covid vaccine can cause thrombosis as a rare side effect. The admission could pave the way for multimillion-dollar settlements, according to British media.
On this front, in recent days a first group of 12 of the 51 families who had sued the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant in London as part of a potentially million-dollar class action relating to collateral damage – sometimes fatal – attributed to the anti-Covid vaccine produced by the company announced that it had given up pursuing the claim for damages before the High Court of the British capital.