AstraZeneca initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” since the pandemic. The move also comes amidst lingering concerns over the vaccine’s safety. Some 5.29 million doses (data from September 24, 2023) of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in Poland.
Media reports have pointed to court documents where AstraZeneca has acknowledged that Vaxzevria could cause side effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts, issues that have been a significant part of the vaccine discourse globally.
The vaccine developed by Oxford University is no longer authorized for use in the European Union, as AstraZeneca has voluntarily withdrawn its marketing authorization, effective on Wednesday.
In February, AstraZeneca acknowledged that the vaccine could occasionally lead to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, a very rare condition. Nevertheless, AstraZeneca maintains that the decision to pull the vaccine from the market is based on commercial reasons rather than issues raised in any legal context.
Covid-19 vaccine side effects
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, which involves severe blood clotting and low platelet counts, has occurred in some cases after receiving the vaccine, as noted in an article on Independent.co.uk.
The Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences classifies such side effects as “very rare” when they appear in fewer than 1 in 10,000 cases. WHO emphasizes that in regions where SARS-CoV-2 is actively spreading, the benefits of vaccination substantially outweigh the risks.
The vaccine developed by Oxford University is no longer authorized for use in the European Union, as AstraZeneca has voluntarily withdrawn its marketing authorization, effective on Wednesday.
In February, AstraZeneca acknowledged that the vaccine could occasionally lead to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, a very rare condition. Nevertheless, AstraZeneca maintains that the decision to pull the vaccine from the market is based on commercial reasons rather than issues raised in any legal context.
Covid-19 vaccine side effects
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a rare side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, which involves severe blood clotting and low platelet counts, has occurred in some cases after receiving the vaccine, as noted in an article on Independent.co.uk.
The Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences classifies such side effects as “very rare” when they appear in fewer than 1 in 10,000 cases. WHO emphasizes that in regions where SARS-CoV-2 is actively spreading, the benefits of vaccination substantially outweigh the risks.
The Serum Institute of India (SII), which produced AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine under the brand name Covishield, stopped manufacturing and supply of the doses in December 2021, an SII spokesperson said.
The company began moving into respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and obesity drugs through several deals last year after a slowdown in growth as COVID-19 medicine sales declined.
COVID-19 vaccinations in Poland
According to the official Polish government website, the total number of vaccinations administered stands at 58,570,454. Furthermore, data from Ourworldindata.org indicates that around 5.29 million doses (data from September 24, 2023) of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in the country.
Moreover, the Polish government reported that adverse events following immunization (AEFI) from the COVID-19 vaccine in Poland totaled 18,611.
“In Poland, AEFIs are reported at an average rate of 0.05% for completed vaccinations administered as part of the Immunization Program and 0.04% for COVID-19 vaccinations,” szczepienia.pzh.gov.pl states. AEFI symptoms may include high fever, rash, difficulty breathing, and others.
The company began moving into respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and obesity drugs through several deals last year after a slowdown in growth as COVID-19 medicine sales declined.
COVID-19 vaccinations in Poland
According to the official Polish government website, the total number of vaccinations administered stands at 58,570,454. Furthermore, data from Ourworldindata.org indicates that around 5.29 million doses (data from September 24, 2023) of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in the country.
Moreover, the Polish government reported that adverse events following immunization (AEFI) from the COVID-19 vaccine in Poland totaled 18,611.
“In Poland, AEFIs are reported at an average rate of 0.05% for completed vaccinations administered as part of the Immunization Program and 0.04% for COVID-19 vaccinations,” szczepienia.pzh.gov.pl states. AEFI symptoms may include high fever, rash, difficulty breathing, and others.
Source: szczepienia.pzh.gov.pl, independent.co.uk, ourworldindata.org, gov.pl, dailymail.co.uk, Reuters
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