Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is reportedly withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine worldwide. The vaccine was discontinued by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Authority in April 2023 after findings of adverse side effects.“At the current time, the use of the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine in adults aged less than 50 years who have not already received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.
On April 30, AstraZeneca conceded the vaccine, sold under the name Vaxzevria, can cause fatal blood clots and low platelet counts, also known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS. TTS was very rare in Australia with government estimates suggesting it affected around 2 per 100,000 people aged 60 or older, and around 2-3 per 100,000 people under 60 years of age.So Dr Griffin says there's no reason for anyone to be worried about those extreme side effects now.