AstraZeneca withdraws COVID vaccine worldwide weeks after admitting rare side effects

British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is currently withdrawing its COVID vaccine worldwide, months after it admitted for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, The Telegraph reported.

The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on Tuesday, the report added.

The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, was produced by the Serum Institute of India as Covishield.

What did the company say about withdrawal?

The vaccine maker has cited commercial reasons for the withdrawal. The company voluntarily withdrew its “marketing authorisation” in the European Union, adding that the vaccine was no longer being produced and could no longer be used. The withdrawal was initiated due to surplus of available updated vaccines.

What did AstraZeneca say in the court document?

AstraZeneca is facing a 100 million pound lawsuit in UK due to admission in court documents about a rare side effect caused by the vaccine. In one of the court documents in February, AstraZeneca has said that its vaccines can "in very rare cases, cause TTS or Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome".

What is Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome?

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a rare but serious condition characterized by the formation of blood clots combined with low levels of platelets in the blood. It has been predominantly associated with certain COVID-19 vaccines, particularly adenovirus vector vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine.


TTS typically manifests within a few days to a few weeks after vaccination. Symptoms include severe headache, abdominal pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath, and neurological symptoms. These symptoms can indicate the formation of blood clots in various parts of the body, such as the brain, abdomen, or lungs.

The exact cause of TTS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve an immune response triggered by the vaccine, leading to abnormal clotting and platelet destruction. Diagnosis requires clinical evaluation, imaging studies to detect blood clots, and laboratory tests to confirm low platelet counts.

Treatment for TTS often involves hospitalization and specialized care, including anticoagulant therapy to prevent further clot formation and intravenous immunoglobulin to stabilize platelet levels. Prompt recognition and management are essential to prevent severe complications, including organ damage or death, associated with TTS.