AstraZeneca’s jab withdrawn as demand falls
THE Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab that saved millions is being withdrawn globally.
The move comes amid falling demand and a surplus of newer vaccines.
The shot – developed at Oxford University in record time – is credited with helping to end lockdowns.
But it is now thought to be less effective than others that were updated to target new coronavirus variants.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine was also plagued by reports of rare but serious blood clots – in around one in 50,000 under-50s inoculated and one in 100,000 over-50s.
Anti-vaxxers sought to portray news of its withdrawal as proof it was harmful. But experts were clear its rare side effects did not outweigh the benefits. Dr Michael Head, a University of Southampton global health expert, said the rate of clots linked to the jab was much lower than the combined contraceptive pill.
He added: “It has been an excellent and vital vaccine, a key part of the pandemic response for most countries.
“There would have been far more deaths, hospitalisations, illness and transmission, if we hadn’t had the AstraZeneca vaccine, alongside other key vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna.”
The jab hasn’t been used in the UK since the start of the booster programme, although officials said this was because mRNA vaccines were more effective, not because of safety concerns.
Dr Head said other Covid shots using mRNA tech – including those from Pfizer and Moderna – were “essentially better products”.
Over three billion doses of the jab were supplied globally in the first year, saving around 6.5 million lives.
An AstraZeneca source said: “Our efforts have been recognised by governments around the world and are widely regarded as being a critical component of ending the global pandemic.”