AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine, cites surplus of available updated vaccines
New Delhi (PTI): UK-based pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca has started global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, which was provided in India as 'Covishield' in partnership with Serum Institute of India, days after it admitted to rare side effects of blood clotting and low platelet counts.
The withdrawal has been initiated due to a surplus of available updated vaccines since the pandemic, the company said in a statement.
AstraZeneca had partnered with Oxford University to develop the COVID-19 vaccine, which was sold in India as Covishield and as Vaxzevria in Europe.
"As multiple, variant COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzervria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied," it said.
The company further said, "We will now work with regulators and our partners to align on a clear path forward to conclude this chapter and significant contribution to the COVID-19 pandemic."
Earlier, according to global media reports, AstraZeneca had admitted that its COVID-19 vaccine could in very rare cases has the potential to cause a rare side effect called -- Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
Without referring to the side effects, the company said, "we are incredibly proud of the role Vaxzevria played in ending the global pandemic. According to independent estimates, over 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and over three billion doses were supplied globally."
It further 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."
In India, over 220 crore dosages of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered and a majority of those were Covishield.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police suspended over Anjali murder case in Karnataka
Hubballi (Karnataka), May 19: The Deputy Commissioner of Police of Hubballi-Dharwad M Rajeev has been suspended in connection with the Anjali Ambigera murder case, top police sources said on Sunday.
Anjali (20) was stabbed to death allegedly by her neighbour Girish Sawant (23) for declining his love proposal on May 15.
This incident came close on the heels of the Neha Hiremath murder case. Neha (23) was stabbed to death by her former classmate Fayaz Khodunaik on her college campus in Hubballi on April 18.
Rajeev was the DCP of Law and Order of Hubballi-Dharwad city.
A week before the murder, Anjali's mother had complained to the police against Girish alleging that he was pestering her, but no action was taken.
Cracking the whip, the Commissioner of Police of Hubballi-Dharwad suspended the DCP.
Following the tense atmosphere prevailing in the city over the incident, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R Hitendra today met the family members of Neha Hiremath and Anjali Ambigere.
He also held a meeting with the senior police officials of Hubballi-Dharwad and gave them the necessary directions.
Later, speaking to reporters, he said in the last 15 days, two young women have been murdered, which created an atmosphere of fear among people. In this background, he visited the city.
A decision will be taken by Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara with regard to the Anjali murder case, the ADGP said, and added that more action will follow in the coming days.
