AstraZeneca stops production of Covid-19 vaccine; says lack of demand

AstraZeneca, a prominent pharmaceutical company involved in Covid-19 vaccine production, has announced a global cessation of its vaccine manufacturing operations. The decision stems from what the company describes as an abundance of alternative vaccines tailored to address emerging variants of the virus. This move follows the voluntary withdrawal of its European Union marketing authorization in March and subsequent notification from the European Medicines Agency revoking its authorization for use on May 7.

Various nations, including Australia, had phased out the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the availability of newer alternatives. Originally marketed as the AstraZeneca vaccine, it was later rebranded as Vaxzevria. Administered in two doses to individuals aged 18 and older, with some regions utilizing it as a booster shot, the vaccine’s administration involved intervals of several months between doses.

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AstraZeneca cited diminishing demand for its vaccine, attributing it to the availability of newer alternatives deemed more efficacious against different strains of the virus. Consequently, the company has ceased production and distribution of its vaccine.

The Vaxzevria vaccine, like others, elicited safety concerns, notably a rare but severe side effect termed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia. Despite its overall efficacy, this adverse reaction occurred in a small percentage of vaccinated individuals.

While acknowledging AstraZeneca’s pivotal role in the initial phase of combating the pandemic, experts suggest that newer vaccines better align with the evolving landscape of virus variants. The World Health Organization has advised the development of vaccines targeting specific virus lineages to address emerging challenges.

AstraZeneca expressed gratitude for global recognition of its contributions, claiming to have saved over 6.5 million lives within the first year of vaccine deployment, supplying billions of doses worldwide. The company pledges collaboration with regulatory bodies and partners to navigate the conclusion of its involvement in the Covid-19 pandemic.

-Agencies

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