AstraZeneca Withdraws COVID-19 Vaccine Due to Surplus
AstraZeneca has initiated a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, due to a surplus of updated vaccines available since the pandemic. The company stated that the surplus has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied.
In Australia, the AstraZeneca vaccine was withdrawn on March 21, 2023. This decision was based on the vaccine's association with a rare but serious side effect, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS). TSS involves blood clots and a low blood platelet count, and can be fatal in some cases.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) initially recommended alternative vaccines for people under 50 due to their slightly higher risk of developing TSS. This recommendation was later extended to people under 60. The Department of Health estimated the rate of TSS from Vaxzevria to be about two in every 100,000 in people over 60, and about two to three in 100,000 in people under 60.
A total of 13 million AstraZeneca doses were administered in Australia, with 173 "probable" or "confirmed" cases of TSS reported. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reported 14 deaths linked to a COVID-19 vaccination, eight of which were associated with TSS. No new deaths have been identified since 2022.
AstraZeneca admitted in court documents that the vaccine caused side-effects such as blood clotting. The company has since shifted its focus to other areas, such as respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and obesity drugs.
The current advice from the Department of Health recommends one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as a primary course for most Australians, or two doses for those at risk of severe illness. A booster dose is recommended for people aged 65 years and over every 12 months.