British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced on Wednesday that it was withdrawing from sale its Covid-19 vaccine Vaxzevria, one of the first put on the market during the pandemic, citing commercial reasons. “ As multiple Covid-19 vaccines have been developed there is a surplus of updated vaccines » in the face of different variants of the virus “ which resulted in a decline in demand “, justified the group in a press release. AstraZeneca’s product uses classic viral vector technology, it is not a messenger RNA vaccine.
However, according to the newspaper The Telegraph, it would not be the only reason. AstraZeneca first admitted in late April in court documents that its product “could cause a rare and dangerous side effect “. “ The vaccine can no longer be used in the European Union after the company voluntarily withdrew its marketing authorization. The request to withdraw the vaccine was filed on March 5 and came into effect on Tuesday » May 7, also indicates The Telegraph.
“At least 81 deaths in the United Kingdom”
Recent studies show that the AstraZeneca vaccine has a very rare side effect that causes blood clots and low blood platelet counts. AstraZeneca thus admitted in February that the vaccine “ can, in very rare cases, cause TTS », thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. According to The Telegraphthe British vaccine is “associated” with “ at least 81 deaths in the UK as well as hundreds. serious injuries “. The laboratory is being sued by more than 50 alleged victims or relatives of presumed deceased victims. At least one victim was recorded in Pas-de-Calais.
